CLINICAL CASE STUDY DEMONSTRATING TIMELY HEMATOMA FROM TRAUMATIC LEG WOUND UTILIZING A HYDROGEL SHEET*

Clinicians: Ruth Anderson, RN, CWS and Char Wilkening, RN, CWS

Boone County Hospital, Boone, IA

The incidence of hematomas is a frequent occurrence in the elderly population both in nursing homes and out patient settings because of their fragile skin and tissue. A hematoma can develop from relatively minor bumps and scrapes on wheelchairs, beds and other hard objects. Often the age of the patients and their general health prevent immediate removal or drainage of these wounds because of the potential for high levels of blood loss. We have discovered a simple protective manner to treat such injuries. This presentation details this general cost effective method.

This case study is of a 97 year old woman who sustained a traumatic injury to the lower leg resulting in a 4cm x 3cm boggy hematoma.

The hematoma required protection and maintenance of its integrity while allowing for it’s a traumatic removal. Weekly treatment was: cleansing, covering with an absorbent, bacteriostatic hydrogel sheet* and securing the dressing with an elastic bandage.

Two (2) weeks after initiation of the weekly protocol, 100% of the hematoma was mechanically debrided with essentially no bleeding and revealed a beefy red wound bed. Twenty one (21) days following the hematoma removal, the wound had granulated and scarred (healed).

The bacteriostatic hydrogel sheet* was effective in protecting the hematoma as well as keeping the area infection-free. The absorption properties of the hydrogel sheet* helped in the extraction of the excess fluids within the hematoma which left only the devitalized tissue that was easily removed and caused no trauma or damage to the wound bed. The open wound was then covered with the hydrogel sheet* with weekly dressing changes. The wound was fully healed in four (4) weeks with no signs of infection or other complications. Using this protocol made for easy management of the wound and was truly cost effective.

Presented at the14th Annual Clinical Symposium on Wound Care

September 30-October 4, 1999

Denver, CO

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