Tissue viability information and resources
Leg ulcers
A leg ulcer is a break in the skin below the knee which has not healed within 2 weeks.
Information for professionals
Moisture associated skin damage (MASD)
Moisture associated skin damage covers a range of skin problems that occur as result of prolonged exposure to various sources of moisture including wound exudate, saliva, faecal, urinary incontinence and perspiration.
Nutrition and hydration
Suboptimal nutrition can alter immune function, collagen synthesis, and wound tensile strength, all of which are essential in the wound healing process. It is also important to remember that not all wounds are equal: a burn is different from a diabetic foot ulcer, which is different from a pressure ulcer (Quain & Khardori, 2015).
When your dehydrated the body is not receiving the amount of fluids it necessary for wound healing. Abnormalities that can arise from dehydration include:
- poor oxygen perfusion as water is the primary way that oxygen and nutrients are delivered directly to the wound bed, and dehydration is one of the most common reasons why cell function becomes disrupted
- essential nutrients not being delivered to the wound surface
A dehydrated wound doesn’t maintain adequate amounts of moisture, therefore, epithelial cells fail to migrate across the wound bed.
Information for patients
Pressure ulcers and bed sores
A pressure ulcer is localised damage to the skin and/or underlying tissue, usually over a bony prominence (or related to a medical or other device) resulting from sustained pressure (including pressure associated with shear).
The damage can be present as intact skin or an open ulcer and may be painful.” (NHS Improvement 2018)
Skin tears
A skin tear is a traumatic wound caused by mechanical forces, including removal of adhesives. Severity may vary by depth (not extending through the subcutaneous layer)
