Close up image of a caretaker helping older woman walk

An adhesive, polyurethane foam dressing can help prevent the onset of pressure ulcers at the sacrum of elderly patients with hip fracture, an Italian study shows.

Over nine months, researchers tested the multi-layered product on the sacrum of 177 patients and tracked 182 patients with the same injuries but no wearable padding.

According to results published in the International Wound Journal in January, eight patients in the experimental group developed ulcers, while 28 in the control group did so.

Previous studies have shown that multi-layered polyurethane is likely the most effective material in preventing wounds among intensive care patients. But author Cristiana Forni, RN, of the Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute in Bologna, said there was a lack of well-designed clinical trials to support its use among elderly patients with hip fractures.

Many of those in her study wore briefs and used urinary catheters in addition to recovering from injury or surgery.

Though 11% of patients removed the pad temporarily, particularly when disoriented, Forni said the dressing’s adhesive also kept cost down by cutting the need to reapply.