subject: New Regulations For Orthopaedic Pin Sites Issued [print this page] The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has put together new regulations that relates to post-orthopaedic surgery care.
The new measures, covered by Nursing Times, are meant to be able to make sure that orthopaedic pin sites are effectively taken care of with infection prevented.
The main problems that the orthopaedic surgeries regularly face are those people with musculoskeletal conditions such as sport injuries and degenerative disease.
Orthopaedic surgeons use a combination of both surgical and non-surgical treatments and hospitals. Furthermore, healthcare providers make use of a number of different wound and medical dressing products which help to form part of their overall post-surgery care strategies such as lamination films.
The brand new best practice regulations produced by experts and put together by the RCNs Society of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing is not meant to be seen as a set of regulations but more as a framework which helps to represent the latest thinking with regards to orthopaedic practice.
Elaine Collins, who is head of the society and is head of the clinical services at the Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, said to the Nursing Times that the external fixation and limb rebuilding guidelines helped to form a crucial part of trauma and orthopaedic care.
Despite this, she went on to explain that it was vital for new research to be conducted to help improve further practice in the area. The RCNs new guidelines were in recognition of this requirement, she added.
Under the new regulations, it is suggested:
When skin is not regarded as being sensitive, pin sites should be cleaned on a weekly basis through using alcoholic chlorhexidine solution and non-shedding gauze
Pin sites should then be dressed with a medical dressing that is able to keep excess moisture away from the open wound
Wound dressings should be kept in place through using a clip or bun to put light pressure on the wound
If an infection is present or the dressing becomes saturated then the number of times the dressing is changed should be increased.
Furthermore, the guidelines state that on the day the dressing is changed patients can swim, shower and attend hydrotherapy classes but should not put the limb into water.
It further recommends that symptoms and other issues that patients report about ingestion should be handled seriously.
There are a wide range of medical and wound dressing items available for both orthopaedic and general care, such as lamination films and polyurethane films.
