Effect of Local Warming Techniques on Wounds Temperature, Pain and Healing of Non-Ischemic Diabetic Wounds

Document Type : Research articles

Authors

1 M.SC. N, Faculty of Nursing, Tishreen University

2 Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University.

3 Vascular & diabetic foot Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria Universit

Abstract

Background: Diabetic wounds are one of the most severe complications of diabetes, and more 
than half of those wounds become infected, and increase the potential for these wounds to get 
worse and compromise the safety of the limbs and even threatening patients' life. Objective: To 
assess the Effect of local warming techniques on wounds temperature, pain and healing of nonischemic diabetic wounds. Settings: The vascular surgery and diabetic foot departments-Main 
University Hospital, Alexandria University. Subjects: a convenience sample of (80) adult patients 
with type 2 diabetes with non-ischemic diabetic wounds. Tools: Tool I was Patient's 
sociodemographic data and clinical data. Tool II was Healing Scale, it consists of 9 items: wound 
dimensions, depth/tissue concerned, edges, maceration, perilesional tunneling, type of tissue in the 
wound bed, exudate, infection/inflammation, frequency of pain (in last 10 days). Tool III was Pain 
Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Tool IV was infrared dermal thermometer. Results: We revealed 
that the best wound temperature record before and after the procedure was in the group which 
apply both warming technique, with mean temperature (32.02 ± 0.26) before and (38.04 ± 0.24)
after, while the control group which have no warming technique recorded the lowest wound 
temperature before and after the procedure with mean temperature (28.68 ± 0.47) before and 
(24.61 ± 0.34) after, and these differences was statistically significant (p <0.001). Conclusion:
Warming techniques is cost effective method that help to reduce; wound parameter, pain, signs of 
infection, improve healing and reduce the upset accompanied with wound irrigated by cold 
solution. Recommendations: Disinfectant solution should be warmed to (38 - 42) during 
dressing times. Reduce wound exposure times during dressing changes to decrease wounds 
temperature loss.

Keywords