Examining Factors That Contribute to Delayed Wound Healing in Children with Tracheostomy Wounds

Brian H. Odom, Leah Lowe, Lisa Vanhoose, Jacqueline Rainey, Charlotte Yates

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To identify variables that may contribute to delayed wound healing times in pediatric patients with tracheostomy wounds. DESIGN Researchers identified 134 charts spanning January 2013 to June 2017; 95 charts met the inclusion criteria. The study examined Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (PUSH) scores, pressure injury staging, and albumin levels. SETTING Arkansas Children's Hospital. PATIENTS Patients (birth to 18 years) who developed or were admitted with a wound caused by a tracheostomy device. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Time in days to wound closure. MAIN RESULTS There was a moderate positive correlation between albumin and days to healing (r = 0.432, n = 22, P =.045) with higher albumin levels associated with shorter healing times. The PUSH scores and pressure injury stage were significant in explaining 14.1% of variance in days to healing (F 77,2 = 7.458; P <.001). CONCLUSIONS Wound healing appears to be multifactorial in nature in the pediatric population; albumin levels, pressure injury stage, and PUSH scores are all positively correlated with healing times. Further research is needed to investigate the contribution of race to healing time predication for the pediatric population.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1-4
Number of pages4
JournalAdvances in Skin and Wound Care
Volume33
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • healing
  • medical device-related injuries
  • pediatric
  • pressure injuries
  • regression
  • tracheostomy
  • wound

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Dermatology
  • Advanced and Specialized Nursing

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