The key nursing goal identified by EPUAP (European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Board), was namely to "protect against the adverse effects of external mechanical forces:

pressure, friction and shear on skin

I have become aware of a new fabric, Parafricta, that offers unique protection against two of these, friction and shear, and is compatible with all existing methods of mitigating the effects of pressure, e.g. pressure reducing mattresses and beds.

Great Ormond Street, use the fabric on children with fragile skin due to Epidermolysis Bullosa, as well as hospices, nursing homes, and individual community based customers. Looking at the case study reports on the website www.parafricta.com results have confirmed that the garments and bedclothes prevent skin breakdown and progression to clinically detrimental pressure sores.

I have learnt that many chronic wounds are initiated by frictional shearing of compromised skin in cardiovascular compromised, diabetic or bed-confined patients. Friction often dislodges and "rucks up" wound dressings that are in place to treat an ulcer, as the patient moves about in the bed or chair. With most materials, static friction is greater than moving friction. This causes a jerk or "snatch" when one surface begins to move against another, which results in damage to skin or displacement of a dressing. Parafricta™ fabric can be used to avoid this effect. A significant feature of Parafricta™ fabrics is that the static and moving friction coefficients are equal.

Wound dressings are expensive to replace in terms of cost per dressing and time spent by nurses cleaning the adhesives from around the wound. Aggressive adhesives that would keep these dressings in place also have a downside: They cause shearing of the already weak skin and expansion of the existing wound trauma, thus creating the need for larger dressings and more adhesive to keep them in place.

What are your thoughts on a product that can do all this and is CE certified? Should it become part of pressure sore best practice? Would you be interested in a product like this that is aiming to improve the quality of life for pressure sore sufferers?

Hi Chris,

Are you connected to this company at all?

Regards

Simon

Hey cj,

I think I would be interested in getting something like that for my man because he had a bed sore as round as the size of a frying pan and as deep to where you could see his pelvis bone. I nursed that wound (Decubitus Ulcer Stage IV) from that as to what I described all the way down to the size of a nickle. Now, he is experiencing something new in that area. I really dont want him to ever go through that EVER again and if there is something that I could do to prevent him from that I WANT IT.

Now he has total feeling in that area and this could be very painful for him.

I am a shareholder in the company. The company has been 8 years into development and is at a stage now to start rolling out this revolutionary material to start helping millions of lives. I am currently doing research into forums and blogs and found this site and want to start educating people about this product.

If you would like to discuss this futrther please message me and I will be happy to have a chat. Regards Chris



Good Morning Tash, I certainly believe I can help you out... if you would like to speak to me around this topic send me a message with your contact details and I will be happy to discuss this further. Regards Chris

I've been a quadriplegic and wheelchair user for over 43 years. I could see where such a fabric would be quite useful and beneficial in a number of applications. Three come readily to mind: seat cushion covers, bed sheets, and clothing. One problem with artificial fibers is moisture dispersal. I've tried many kinds of pants/slacks over the years from cotton jeans to wool-polyester blends to rayon/wool/polyester blends. Some felt fine and others felt clammy and clingy.

Same with seat cushion covers. They need to be of a material that wears well, has some stretch, disperses moisture, and allows minor movement of the seated person without moving itself.

Bed sheets and pads would have similar requirements, especially for those who spend extended periods in bed.

Just some observations.

As long as you know the difference between "Educating" and "Advertising", and give impartial information, then there will not be a problem.

Regards

Simon

Hello Chris,

Would the material, if adhered to a transfer board, allow bare skin transfers without damaging the skin ?

I've been trying to come with a way to transfer to a shower bench using a transfer board without having to just bump across the board.