Case Study

Case Study: Successful Management of an Infected Type 3 Skin Tear

Maher Najem

• 3 min read

At Pharmacy 777 Albion Park, our wound care program regularly handles complex cases requiring careful assessment and tailored treatment plans. Today, we'd like to share a recent success story demonstrating the importance of proper wound management and the expertise our Pharmacists bring to patient care.

The Initial Presentation

A patient presented with an infected type 3 skin tear. Type 3 tears are characterised by complete loss of the skin flap, making them particularly challenging to treat. The wound showed clear signs of infection with surrounding redness, exudate, and biofilm formation.

Initial presentation: note redness radiating from wound, suggesting spreading infection.

Treatment Journey

Initial Treatment

The patients was initially prescribed antibiotics. The wound was dressed with silver (Ag) foam dressing, chosen for its antimicrobial properties. This approach targeted the immediate concern of controlling the infection.

7-Day Review

At the one-week mark, significant progress was observed. The antibiotics had successfully cleared the spreading infection, which was crucial for preventing further complications. However, the biofilm remained persistent and the wound itself was not improving. We noticed the silver dressing wasn't effectively addressing this issue.

Making an evidence-based decision, our Pharmacists replaced the silver dressing with Inadine, a povidone-iodine impregnated dressing known for its effectiveness against biofilms.

7 days post injury: Treatment with antibiotics and silver (Ag) dressing.

14-Day Review

After another week of treatment (7 days using Inadine), we observed remarkable improvement. The Inadine had significantly reduced the biofilm, and the wound had begun the healing process. The patient was planning to go on holidays, so our team provided thorough instructions on how to continue dressing the wound while away.

14 days post injury: 7 days of iodine impregnated dressing (Inadine). Biofilm dissolving.

29-Day Review

By day 29 (after 22 days of Inadine treatment), the wound was nearly completely healed. The patient continued with regular dressing changes as recommended by our Pharmacists, maintaining the momentum of the healing process.

29 days post injury: Continue Inadine use with patient conducting dressing changes.

Key Learnings

This case highlights several important aspects of wound care:

  1. Appropriate assessment and monitoring: Regular reviews allowed us to track progress and adjust treatment as needed.
  2. Targeted approach: Initially addressing the infection before focusing on biofilm management.
  3. Flexibility in treatment plans: Recognising when a particular approach isn't working (silver dressing) and switching to a more effective alternative (Inadine).
  4. Patient education: Ensuring the patient could continue care during holidays maintained treatment continuity.

Our Wound Care Program

At Pharmacy 777 Albion Park, our wound care program is designed to provide comprehensive assessment and treatment plans for a variety of wounds. Our Pharmacists have specialised training in wound management and work collaboratively with other healthcare providers to ensure optimal outcomes.

If you or someone you know is struggling with a wound that isn't healing properly, please don't hesitate to visit our pharmacy for an assessment. Early intervention can significantly improve healing times and prevent complications.

Note: This case study is presented with patient consent, with identifying details removed to protect privacy.