Measuring Tensile Strength to Better Establish Protective Capacity of Sacral Prophylactic Dressings Over 7 Days of Laboratory Aging

Results from large-scale randomized clinical trials support the application of prophylactic dressings to provide protection from body-weight force-induced deformations known to damage skin and underlying tissues, which often result in pressure injuries (pressure ulcers). This laboratory study using a new method for aging dressings in simulated use followed by tensile testing was conducted to further understand the protective effect of sacral prophylactic dressings (SPDs) in alleviating tissue deformations in the sacral region through the course of typical application. Specifically, four SPDs were exposed to a simulation of the clinical environment incorporating saline solution absorption, mechanical loading, and repetitive sliding-induced shear. After aging, the protective endurance of the SPDs was measured through tensile testing to determine their effectiveness against tissue-damaging forces over time. This study uses the concepts of axial stiffness, protective endurance, and elastic limit to describe more accurately the protective aspects of SPDs under dry and moist conditions and how they interact with the skin and underlying tissues over the life of the dressing. The authors propose two primary features in SPD effectiveness in preventing pressure injuries: high conformability (ie, low flexural stiffness) and protective endurance (the dressing's capacity to maintain biomechanical performance when moist).