Clinical Case Study - Skin Tear - Mepilex® Border Comfort

Patient and Wound History

• A 77-year-old female presented for same-day management with an acute traumatic skin tear (Type 2).
• The patient has a current medical history of asthma
• The wound, located on the elbow of the right arm, measured 7cm x 7cm.
• The wound bed was composed of 100% denuded dermis.
• The wound exudate level was low; serosanguinous in appearance.
• The peri-wound skin was fragile.
• At baseline, pain prior to receiving treatment was recorded as 8, as measured on a visual analogue scale (VAS) ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (maximum pain ever). Upon dressing application, a VAS of 8 was recorded.

Treatment Regime

• A detailed wound evaluation was completed at a baseline assessment and at a scheduled study visit on treatment day 7.
• Prior to dressing application, the skin flap was gently eased, as close as possible, back over the wound without applying tension. The wound area was then dressed with Mepilex® Border Comfort dressing.
• The wound dressing was changed at day 3 according to local clinical practice.
• At the dressing changes, the wound was cleansed with saline.

Follow-up assessments

• After 7 days of treatment, the dressing had stabilised the replaced skin flap. The edges were completely re epithelialised and bruising had reduced to the centre of the flap.
• At the final study evaluation, wound exudate was absent.
• The skin covering the healed wound and the peri-wound skin remained
  fragile.
• At the final evaluation, the patient had no pain prior to or during dressing removal.

Wound Progression

Clinical outcome

•  The primary approach to managing this patient was to facilitate faster healing.
• At the final evaluation, the wound had healed but the new epithelial tissue was fragile.
• The clinician was impressed that the objectives for the patient were met in
  such a short period of time. The patient was able to shower daily keeping the dressing in situ. When removed, Mepilex® Border Comfort was atraumatic.
• The patient reported Mepilex® Border Comfort was comfortable to wear with no restriction of arm movementAfter 25 days of treatment with Mepilex® Border Comfort, the wound measured 625mm2, a 43% reduction by area, but wound depth remained unchanged. The condition of the wound bed was stable, and the peri-wound skin was healthy

^{Acknowledgement: This case study report has been prepared by Mölnlycke’s Global Medical Affairs & Safety team, based on information and photographs kindly supplied by the patient’s clinician who wishes to remain anonymous but who  has confirmed and given Mölnlycke permission to distribute this report,}