Identifier: TFG:2689
Authors: Gil Segura, Marta
Abstract:
Introduction: skin tears are traumatic wounds resulting from friction and shearing forces. They are the most common wound among the elderly and have the potential to cause infection, form chronic wounds, reduce quality of life and increase health costs. Objective: the aim of this study was to determine the current state of knowledge about the correct approach to people with skin tears at risk of suffering them. Method: an integrative review of scientific literature published between 2005 and 2020 was performed using the following electronic databases: Pubmed, Cinahl, Scopus and Google Scholar. Different keywords and Boolean operators “AND” and “OR“ have been combined. To select the articles, the title, the abstracts and later the complete documents were reviewed. Results: a total of 21 articles were considered relevant to the search. Among them were 13 bibliographic reviews, 2 cohort studies, 2 case reports, 2 original studies, 1 control case and 1 observational study. Discussion: the real incidence of these wounds is still largely unknown, but scientific literature suggests that it may have a range from 2'23% to 92%. The most prevalent risk factors for skin tears were dermatoporosis, dehydration, malnutrition, sensory changes, impaired mobility and drug therapies. Besides, prevention consists of promoting a safe environment, through multidisciplinary work and health education. Finally, scientific evidence has demonstrated that the best management results are obtained by covering the skin tear with the flap itself, using suitable products. Conclusions: further research is needed to determine the prevalence and incidence of skin tears across healthcare settings. There is also required an internationally accepted and validated classification system. To sum up, best practice prevention and treatment guidelines are essential to assist health care professionals in managing these wounds.
Repositori URV