Managing a traumatic wound in a geriatric patient.

Author(s): Glenn J

Affiliation(s): Post Acute Rehabilitation Unit, Kennedy Health System, Kennedy Health Care Center, 535 Egg Harbor Road, Sewell, NJ 08080, USA. j.glenn@kennedyhealth.org

Publication date & source: 2006-04, Ostomy Wound Manage., 52(4):94-8.

Publication type: Case Reports; Review

Clinical management of a wound in a geriatric patient requires an understanding of age-related changes in the skin and the knowledge to make appropriate treatment choices. This case study describes clinical assessment and management of a traumatic hip wound in a 75-year-old patient. In addition to addressing his nutritional status by providing supplements, topical wound care preparations, including papain-urea and castor oil/balsam of Peru/trypsin, were used as a conservative approach to address debridement and periwound skin concerns. Extra vigilance is required to assess wounds in geriatric patients to determine proper wound treatment and achieve optimum results. Additional studies to evaluate optimal treatment strategies in the clinical management of traumatic wounds in the geriatric population are needed.