Surgical Treatment of Pressure Ulcers of the Heel in Skilled Nursing Facilities

2011 ◽  
Vol 101 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Y. Han ◽  
Ruben Ezquerro

Background: Chronic nonhealing pressure ulcers of the heel in nursing homes are frequent occurrences among bedridden patients with lower-extremity contractures of varying degrees of severity. Conservative local wound care for these patients can be time consuming, ineffective, costly, and may only delay an eventual major leg amputation. This study evaluates the efficacy of limb salvage surgical procedures, partial calcanectomy, total calcanectomy, and excision of the entire calcaneus and talus, for heel ulcers. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 57 nursing home residents who had chronic infected nonhealing pressure ulcers of the heel that we had treated over 12 years. Forty-three patients underwent partial calcanectomy, nine underwent total calcanectomy, and five underwent excision of the entire calcaneus and talus. Average postoperative follow-up was 15 months. Also included in this study are representative surgical cases. Results: Forty-three patients completed follow-up. Complete healing occurred in 25 patients (58%). Failure to resolve the heel ulcer owing to persistent infection, or recurrence was seen in 18 patients (42%) who eventually had a below-the-knee or above-the-knee amputation. All of the patients with heel pressure ulcers were found to have lower-extremity contractures. Conclusions: In the nonambulatory contracted patient with a heel ulcer, partial or total calcanectomy or excision of the entire calcaneus and talus offer a viable alternative not only for resolution of infection but also for prevention of limb loss. An aggressive plan must also be instituted to address the lower-extremity contractures in order to prevent recurrence. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 101(2): 167–175, 2011)

1995 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 535-545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynda C. Burton ◽  
Barry W. Rovner ◽  
Pearl S. German ◽  
Larry J. Brant ◽  
Rebecca D. Clark

This article discusses a longitudinal study of change in disruptive behaviors among nursing home residents treated with neuroleptics compared with those not treated with neuroleptics. Observations were made of 201 participants on admission to and after 1 year in eight skilled nursing facilities. Nine disruptive behaviors were measured using the Psychogeriatric Dependency Rating Scale with nursing assistants. Neuroleptic use was documented from medication records. Odds ratios are reported for the association of behavior at baseline and use of neuroleptics on nine problem behaviors. For those who received neuroleptics during the year, there was greater change in both developing and resolving disruptive behaviors than for those not receiving neuroleptics. For both groups, restless or pacing behavior and belligerent behavior manifested by refusing instructions changed the most, both in developing and in apparently resolving. Our results show that change in disruptive behaviors occurs among nursing home residents regardless of neuroleptic use, but it occurs more frequently among those who receive neuroleptic medication. Knowledge of which disruptive behaviors are most likely to resolve or develop is important in training nursing home staff to cope with the behaviors as well as in planning interventions that may modify such behaviors.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (Sup3) ◽  
pp. S13-S18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gholamreza Esmaeeli Djavid ◽  
Seyed Mehdi Tabaie ◽  
Siamak Bashardoust Tajali ◽  
Mehrangiz Totounchi ◽  
Amirreza Farhoud ◽  
...  

Objective: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are often hard-to-heal, despite standard care. With such a complicated healing process, any advanced wound care to aid healing is recommended. Chitosan/collagen composite hydrogel materials have the potential to promote the regenerative process. In this study, the efficacy of a new collagen matrix dressing including chitosan/collagen hydrogel was compared with a standard dressing of saline-moistened gauze for wound healing in patients with a hard-to-heal neuropathic DFU. Method: This is an open labelled, randomised clinical trial. After conventional therapy consisting of debridement, infection control and offloading, patients were randomly allocated to receive either a collagen matrix dressing (the study group, receiving Tebaderm manufacturer) or a saline-moistened gauze dressing (control group) for wound care. The reduction in DFU size and the number of patients with complete healing were measured throughout the treatment and in follow-up. Results: A total of 61 patients with a neuropathic DFU were recruited. Average percentage reduction in DFU size at four weeks was greater in the study group compared with the control group (54.5% versus 38.8%, respectively). Rate of complete healing rate at 20-weeks' follow-up was significantly better in the study group than the control group (60% versus 35.5%, respectively). Conclusion: The collagen matrix dressing used in this study accelerated the healing process of patients with a hard-to-heal DFU. Further research may suggest the used of this dressing to shorten the length of time to achieve complete healing.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. e000502
Author(s):  
Christina Colosimo ◽  
Charles Fredericks ◽  
James R Yon ◽  
John C Kubasiak ◽  
Faran Bokhari ◽  
...  

BackgroundAlthough rarely performed, hip disarticulation (HD) is usually used for the patient with a non-viable leg who is also in extremis. HD was first used for trauma and infection; however, the technique was perfected during the age of hindquarter amputation for osteosarcomas. The operation performed by most surgeons today is still based on the oncological principles of high vessel control and ligation. When this approach has been used in the overwhelmingly infected or mangled extremity, it has resulted in high mortality rates. During the last 20 years, the concept of damage control operation has been embraced by emergency surgeons in all fields. We sought to extrapolate this concept and to apply it to the non-viable lower extremity.MethodsWe describe a new concept of damage control HD, review the technique and discuss our consecutive series of nine patients who underwent the procedure for trauma or necrotizing infection without flap dehiscence or mortality.ResultsAll patients survived to hospital discharge. At time of discharge or at follow-up, six of the nine patients were able to transfer to a wheelchair.DiscussionProper disarticulations for infection need to address these two operative and postoperative issues: damage control debridement with creation of sufficient flap size and thorough postoperative wound care.Level IV


2001 ◽  
Vol 91 (10) ◽  
pp. 533-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier La Fontaine ◽  
Alex Reyzelman ◽  
Gary Rothenberg ◽  
Khalid Husain ◽  
Lawrence B. Harkless

Data from 37 patients who underwent a transmetatarsal amputation from January 1993 to April 1996 were reviewed. The mean age and diabetes duration of the subjects were 54.9 (± 13.2) years and 16.6 (± 8.9) years, respectively. The follow-up period averaged 42.1 (± 11.2) months. At the time of follow-up, 29 (78.4%) of the 37 patients still had foot salvage, 8 (21.6%) had progressed to below-the-knee amputation, and 15 (40.5%) had undergone lower-extremity revascularization. Twelve (80%) of the 15 revascularized patients preserved their transmetatarsal amputation level at a follow-up of 36.4 months. The authors concluded that at a maximum of 3 years follow-up after initial amputation, transmetatarsal amputation was a successful amputation level. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 91(10): 533-535, 2001)


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Chimitt ◽  
Jennifer Carnahan

Background and Hypothesis:   Approximately 40% of patients aged 80+ enter a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) following a hospitalization. SNFs can be used as “safety nets” to expedite the discharge process of older adults and it can be difficult to pinpoint how and who made the decision for a hospitalized older adult to discharge to a SNF.   This project examines the factors that drive older adults to enter and leave a SNF for their rehabilitation care.    Project Methods:   Interview transcripts from a qualitative study with patients and their caregivers were used to examine factors influencing admission to and discharge from SNFs. Baseline interviews were conducted within two to seven days after returning home from a SNF stay followed by a follow up phone call one to two weeks after the initial interview. Transcripts and audio files were coded (using NVivo version 12+) for major themes. Interviews were analyzed using a constant comparative method to elicit themes of interest to interviewees.    Results:   There were 24 baseline interviews and X follow up interviews performed with a total of 24 patients and 15 caregivers. The primary theme identified was that patients perceived a loss of autonomy when considering the decision-making process. 75% (18/24) patients or their caregivers felt the healthcare team told them they must go to a SNF for their rehabilitation. 38% (9/24) patients or caregivers felt they had no choice but to leave due to insurance coverage and 50% (12/24) stated that they needed more time.    Potential Impact:   To achieve better patient outcomes, one must understand both the purpose of skilled nursing facilities and also how patients and their families are feeling as they transition through this uncertain period of their lives. Restoring a patient’s sense of autonomy will foster better patient-healthcare relationships and improve trust in the system. 


2005 ◽  
Vol 95 (4) ◽  
pp. 335-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
David B. Randall ◽  
John Phillips ◽  
Goffredo Ianiro

Pressure ulcers of the heel are a major and growing health-care problem. Although prevention and aggressive local wound care and pressure reduction remain the gold standard for treatment of most heel ulcers, recalcitrant wounds may require surgical intervention. Limb salvage when dealing with heel ulcers remains a challenge. Nine feet (eight patients) that underwent partial calcanectomy for chronic nonhealing heel ulcers were evaluated retrospectively. Complete healing occurred in seven of nine feet. Patients who were ambulatory before surgery remained ambulatory after healing. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 95(4): 335–341, 2005)


2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan H. M. Visschedijk ◽  
Monique A. A. Caljouw ◽  
Eduard Bakkers ◽  
Romke van Balen ◽  
Wilco P. Achterberg

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S355-S355
Author(s):  
Richard B Brooks ◽  
Elisabeth Vaeth ◽  
Niketa M Jani ◽  
Catherine E Dominguez ◽  
Jonathan R Johnston

Abstract Background In April 2017, the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) began screening healthcare contacts of confirmed cases of carbapenemase-producing carbapenem-resistant organisms (CP-CROs) to identify potential transmission, per guidance published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The results of MDH’s CP-CRO colonization screening surveys (CSSs) conducted as of April 1, 2018, are summarized. Methods Rectal swabs were collected on epidemiologically linked CP-CRO contacts and sent to the MDH Laboratories Administration, where the Cepheid Xpert® Carba-R assay was used to detect five carbapenemases: Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC), New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM), Verona integron encoded metallo-β-lactamase (VIM), imipenemase (IMP), and oxacillinase-48-like carbapenemase (OXA-48). Identification of CP-CROs in contacts sometimes resulted in additional CSSs to ensure complete case detection. Non-KPC cases were combined for analysis. Results During April 1, 2017–April 1, 2018, MDH received reports of 278 incident cases of confirmed CP-CROs. Of these, 16 (6%) expressed non-KPC carbapenemases. The 7 (3%) cases with healthcare contacts prompting CSSs led to screening of 132 first-round contacts, with additional CP-CROs identified in 13 (10%), all of which had KPC. Of these, 12 (92%) resided in ventilator units of skilled nursing facilities (vSNFs). In the first-round CSS at one vSNF, 64% of screened contacts were positive for KPC, which had not been identified in the index case. Weekly follow-up CP-CRO admission screenings and serial follow-up CSSs at the vSNF resulted in screening of a total of 72 unique patients; 38 (53%) were KPC-positive. Of these 38 cases, 32 (89%) were previously unidentified and were placed on contact precautions if not already on them. Staff were re-trained in infection prevention (IP) techniques, and staff and KPC-positive patients were cohorted. Conclusion Detection of CP-CROs that express non-KPC carbapenemases in Maryland is rare, and transmission of these carbapenemases has not been identified. However, CSSs identified previously unknown cases of KPC, most commonly in vSNFs, demonstrating the utility of CSSs to detect CP-CROs, and resulting in important IP interventions. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document