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Skin Tear Protection WearStockings & Sleeves

Company MissionTo provide simple, wearable, inexpensive flexible

protective clothing for those vulnerable to abnormal risks as a result of their age, physical or

medical condition and occupational or leisure activities.

Dermatuff©2012

WARNING – Contains pictures of injuries which may upset some people with low tolerance.

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In case anyone does not know what they look like.

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LeBlanc et al. (2007) defined skin tears as:

‘the result of shearing, friction or blunt trauma that causes

separation of skin layers. The subsequent wounds are partial or full thickness depending upon the

degree of tissue damage.’

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Summary of Risk Factors Age and gender •History of previous skin tears •Dry, fragile skin •Medications that thin the skin such as steroids •Ecchymosis (bruising / discolouration of the skin caused by leakage of blood into the subcutaneous tissue as a result of trauma to the underlying blood vessels) •Impaired mobility or vision •Poor nutrition and hydration •Cognitive or sensory impairment •Co morbidities that compromise vascularity and skin status, including chronic heart disease, renal failure, cerebrovascular accident •Dependence on others for showering, dressing or transferring.

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Predisposing Factors •Age related changes to the skin •Skin becomes thinner •Can be 20% reduction in thickness of the dermis •Collagen becomes less elastic •Skin becomes less stretchy and resilient

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Some Causes •Trauma, usually blunt, often minor •Cot sides/Bed rails •Shopping Trolley •Car door •Falls •Tripping on the staircase•Getting on the bus•Rose thorns •Nurses/care

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How many skin tears occur per annum?•There are no national statistics •Published academic studies indicate a level of 1.5309 per annum for people aged 75 and over[1]•75+ population in the UK is 5.085million•This would mean that there will be 7.784 million skin tears each year•Which it costs approximately £2.56bn to treat[2]

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How do Dermatuff Skin Tears Protection Stockings and Sleeves work?

This shows how a terry loop is made. The loops coloured yellow are made with the specialist abrasion and impact resistant aramid yarn whilst the base fabric (coloured black) is nylon.

Inside

Outside

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•The combination of the looping system and the hard aramid prevents the result of shearing, friction or blunt trauma that causes separation of skin layers. •The stockings are not compression stockings •They apply only the safe level of 10 mmHg of pressure or less. •This amount of pressure is necessary to enhance comfort to stay in position and provide close fitting• The stockings have a doubled-over soft-top which ensures that they stay up. Dermatuff©2012

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•The leg portion of the stockings and the sleeves excluding the cuffs are made with the protective material.• The stocking feet are made with cotton as they do not need to be protective.•They do not cause any irritation or allergy •They are warm in winter and cool in summer •They may be washed by normal means at normal temperatures. •Registered as a Medical Device Class I•Listed on NHS Supply Chain

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Stockings Centimetres Centimetres Centimetres Centimetres

Circumference below knee D

Circumference round calf at the widest part C

Circumference narrowest point above the ankle bone B

Length below the knee to floor A - D

Large size not yet available LARGE SIZE 36-48 36 - 50 25-30 41-50

MEDIUM SIZE 22-40 22 - 40 19-30 39-48SMALL SIZE 18-32 18-32 18-27 35-44

Sleeves Centimetres Centimetres Centimetres Centimetres

Circumference above elbow G

Circumference at elbow E

Circumference round wrist at the narrowest point C

Length elbow to wrist C - E

MEDIUM SIZE 24-36 24-38 16-24 25-30

SMALL SIZE 18-30 19-32 13-24 20-25

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First Evaluation in Care Homes•The evaluation took place in five Care Homes During July to September ‘09. •Result - great reduction in painful skin-tears and other harmful effects. •Reduction in dressing of wounds.

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Second Evaluation in Care Homes• 23rd December 2010 to 15th February 2011 in five Care Homes. There were fourteen participants. •All nursing home managers thought that wearing the stockings definitely prevented many more injuries. •There was a high level of acceptability of the stockings by the residents.

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Days Hours Skin-tears Bruises No. of people747 7822 1 0 20

Skin-tear measure

Actual skin tear rate

Potential skin tear rate % reduction

Skin-tears per person

0.05 1.85 97.30%

Bruises measure

Actual Bruises rate

Potential Bruises rate

% reduction

Bruises/person

0 3.6 eliminated

Evaluation Results

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•Florence Lees, now aged 92 who is a very happy resident of Cranford Nursing Home in Exmouth has been wearing the stockings for two years. She says that she has had no problems at all with wearing them and no itching or overheating. •“I’ve been very comfortable with my protective stockings” she said, •“They have saved me a great deal of pain and suffering”

Vulnerable Resident

has no skin tears for

over 2 years

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Example of Cost Saving in a Nursing HomeI was given an example of the cost of treating a skin tear in a Nursing Home.

•Costs each Treatment (see notes)Cost of trained staff each time £7.50Costs of dressings each time £16.00Total cost each time £23.50Twice per week for 7 weeks = x14 = £329This resident has one skin tear per month therefore total for year = £394897% chance of being effective

•Therefore annual saving = £3829•Cost of two pairs of stockings = £60With a patient of this age there is a considerable chance that the skin tear will then turn into a leg ulcer.

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Randomised Controlled Trial to take place•Dr Roy Powell, a researcher and statistician together with his research team made an application for an award of £250,000 to the National Institute for Health Research under its Research for Patient Benefit Scheme to research the effectiveness of the skin tear protection stockings and was successful.

•The trial will start in March 2013.

•The ‘STOPCUTS’ Trial will take place in approximately 30 care homes situated in Exeter, Exmouth and North Devon. Ninety residents will be randomly selected: half of them will wear the stockings and half who will be the control group will not do so. • The trial will last for 16 weeks but because of the very considerable analysis of the data necessary. • The findings will be published at the end of 2014.

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DERMATUff Ltd, EX5 1EETelephone: 01395 548199

Mobile: 07836 212713peter.thornton@dermatuff.com

www.dermatuff.comCompany Number: 06299804

Dermatuff©2012