Click here for the Wounds UK Home Page September 2006

7th Scottish Conference a Huge Success Wounds UK Harrogate Conference Approaches	Nutrition is Key Having just returned from Berlin, and a very absorbing EPUAP conference, I realised that there was a common message which many speakers discussed as part of their presentation, this message was that nutrition was a key component in both development of pressure ulcers and in the success or failure of treating them. Last week a government report revealed that 6 out of 10 patients in hospital care were under nourished. I am sure none of us are surprised by this finding. Part of this was attributed to a lack of nursing time for feeding of patients. Not much has been said, however, about the standard of some of the hospital catering, which as many of us are aware, falls well below that required to assist patient recovery. Rumour has it that Jamie Oliver is on his way to rescue hospital meals next, and if his interest results in the same degree of change we have witnessed in schools then he will be most welcome. This is of course a very serious issue, and all of us involved in wound care realise the importance of improving nutritional status, yet there is little evidence to suggest how this can be done effectively. What is important is that we all use some form of nutritional assessment tool. It is not sufficient simply to do a body mass index calculation. This will tell us if someone is over or under the 'average' but does little to inform us of the patients' nutritional state. We are also at risk of putting 'overweight patients' onto reduction diets, due to our obsession with reducing obesity in the population. In a patient with severe wounds, such an approach could be viewed as negligent. All patients in our care will require a highly nutritious and balanced diet regardless of their condition. The presence of a wound will increase this need further as new tissue growth requires proteins, fats, carbohydrates for energy, vitamins and minerals. Yet despite this common sense assumption, there is little conclusive evidence to link nutrition with poor wound healing. This may stem from the multi-factorial nature of the problem and the difficulties in studying it, but also a more recent belief is that peoples' genetic make up could influence the way they metabolise and use nutrients. In the absence of evidence, it is essential that those of us dealing with wounds, of all types, have considered the implications of under-nutrition and have put in place assessment tools and action plans which aim to reduce this problem. Without adequate nutrition even the best dressing technology will fail to heal our patients' wounds. John Timmons Editor Email: John.Timmons@gcal.ac.uk	References Latest journal references

7th Scottish Conference a Huge Success With almost 300 people attending the Wounds UK Scottish Conference in Glasgow, this event has been hailed a huge success. Lanarkshire's Ann MacFarlane chaired the day and there was an excellent range of topics covered by some of the UK's top wound care experts, David Gray, Trudie Young, Sue Bale, Kath Vowden, Deborah Hoffman and Andrew Kingsley all contributed to an extremely informative and worth while day. Topics covered included pressure ulcers, leg ulcers, diabetic foot disease, surgical and traumatic wounds. All the presenters used clinical case studies to demonstrate best practice in each of the topics. There was also a large exhibition in the conference with over 25 companies represented which was well attended by the delegates. Thank you to all involved in making this an excellent day.   Keep reading for: Wounds UK Harrogate Conference Approaches Latest journal references Download this newsletter in PDF format Wounds UK Harrogate Conference Approaches A sign of how quickly the year passes is the impending Wounds UK conference at Harrogate. This year the conference runs from Monday the 13th November until Wednesday 15th. The programme is packed full of expert speakers addressing a huge range of current topics of interest in wound healing. On the final day there will be a guest speech by former olympic athlete Roger Black MBE. For full details go to the Wounds UK website at www.wounds-uk.com Keep reading for: Latest journal references Download this newsletter in PDF format References from this months journals Braakenburg, A.; Obdeijn, M. C.; Feitz, R.; van Rooij, I. A. L. M.; van Griethuysen, A. J.; Klinkenbijl, J. H. G. (2006) The Clinical Efficacy and Cost Effectiveness of the Vacuum-Assisted Closure Technique in the Management of Acute and Chronic Wounds: A Randomized Controlled Trial PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY VOL 118; NUMB 2 pp. 390-397 Coutts, P.; Sibbald, R. G. (2006) The effect of a silver-containing Hydrofiber^(^I^I^) dressing on superficial wound bed and bacterial balance of chronic wounds INTERNATIONAL WOUND JOURNAL VOL 2; ISSU 4 pp. 348-357 Dimond, B. Dermatology: litigation and the NHS Redress Bill. BRITISH JOURNAL OF NURSING -LONDON- VOL 15; NUMB 15; pp. 828-836 Hofmann-Wellenhof, R.; Salmhofer, W.; Binder, B.; Okcu, A.; Kerl, H.; Soyer, H. P. (2006) Feasibility and acceptance of telemedicine for wound care in patients with chronic leg ulcers JOURNAL OF TELEMEDICINE AND TELECARE VOL 12; SUPP/1 pp. 15-16 Lobmann, R.; Zemlin, C.; Motzkau, M.; Reschke, K.; Lehnert, H. (2006) Expression of matrix metalloproteinases and growth factors in diabetic foot wounds treated with a protease absorbent dressing JOURNAL OF DIABETES AND ITS COMPLICATIONS VOL 20; NUMBER 5 pp. 329-335 Markus, Y. M.; Bell, M. J.; Evans, A. W. (2006) Ischemic Scleroderma Wounds Successfully Treated with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy JOURNAL OF RHEUMATOLOGY VOL 33; NUMB 8 pp. 1694-1696 Muangman, P.; Chuntrasakul, C.; Silthram, S.; Suvanchote, S.; Benjathanung, R.; Kittidacha, S.; Rueksomtawin, S. (2006) Comparison of Efficacy of 1% Silver Sulfadiazine and ActicoatTM for Treatment of Partial-Thickness Burn Wounds JOURNAL- MEDICAL ASSOCIATION OF THAILAND VOL 89; PART 7 pp. 953-958 Opper, B.; Elsner, P.; Ziemer, M (2006) Cutaneous Metastasis of Renal Cell Carcinoma. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL DERMATOLOGY, VOL 7; NUMB 4; pp. 271-272 Russell Localio, A.; Margolis, D. J.; Kagan, S. H.; Lowe, R. A.; Kinosian, B.; Abbuhl, S.; Kavesh, W.; Holmes, J. H.; Ruffin, A.; Baumgarten, M. (2006) Use of photographs for the identification of pressure ulcers in elderly hospitalized patients: validity and reliability. WOUND REPAIR AND REGENERATION VOL 14; NUMBER 4 pp. 506-513 Nomikos, I. N.; Malizos, C.; Vamvakopoulos, N. C. (2006) Protective and Damaging Aspects of Healing: A Review. WOUNDS VOL 18; NUMB 7; pp. 177-185 Salim, A.; Sangthong, B.; Martin, M.; Brown, C.; Plurad, D.; Inaba, K.; Rhee, P.; Demetriades, D. (2006) Use of Computed Tomography in Anterior Abdominal Stab Wounds: Results of a Prospective Study ARCHIVES OF SURGERY -NEW YORK- VOL 141; NUMB 8 pp. 745-754 Segers, P.; de Jong, A. P.; Kloek, J. J.; van der Horst, C. M.; Spanjaard, L.; de Mol, B. A. (2006) Topical Negative Pressure Therapy in Wounds after Cardiothoracic Surgery: Successful Experience Supported by Literature THORACIC AND CARDIOVASCULAR SURGEON VOL 54; NUMB 5 pp. 289-294 Serena, T.; Robson, M. C.; Cooper, D. M.; Ignatius, J. (2006) Human Genome Sciences Clinical Trial Group Lack of Reliability of Clinical/Visual Assessment of Chronic Wound Infection: The Incidence of Biopsy-Proven Infection in Venous Leg Ulcers WOUNDS VOL 18; NUMB 7 pp. 197-202 Wilson, H.; Vincent, R. (2006) Autoimmune connective tissue disease: scleroderma. BRITISH JOURNAL OF NURSING -LONDON- VOL 15; NUMB 15; pp. 805-810   Download this newsletter in PDF format