The effect of a ceramide-containing dressing in preventing pressure ulcers

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a ceramide-containing dressing (Remois Pad (R)) on preventing pressure ulcers. Method: A total of 32 patients (64 samples) with a Braden Scale score of 16 or less in intensive care units were enrolled to have the dressing applied for an experimental bilateral comparison study. The dressing was randomly applied to the right or left greater trochanter for 7 days. Incidence of nonblanching erythema and the water-holding capacity of the skin were measured on the third day and seventh day after intervention. Results: On the third day after intervention, nonblanching erythema was not apparent in either the experimental or the control groups. On the seventh day, one (3.3%) and four (13.3%) cases of nonblanching erythema were observed in the experimental group and the control group, respectively; however, the difference was not statistically significant. The water-retaining capacity of the skin on the third and seventh days after the intervention was significantly higher than that of the control group. Conclusion: The data collected from this study gave no evidence that a ceramide-containing dressing had an effect on preventing pressure ulcers in the greater trochanter area.