Low-frequency ultrasound for patients with lower leg ulcers due to chronic venous insufficiency: a report of two cases.

Low-frequency ultrasound may facilitate debridement and healing of chronic wounds, including lower leg wounds in patients with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). To evaluate the use of a low-frequency ultrasound (LFU) device with a curette, two patients with CVI and chronic wounds were treated for a period of 2 to 3 weeks. A 63-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis and two wounds, one on the right lower leg (250 cm³) and one wound on the left medial leg (0.

Hand hygiene-meeting the JCAHO safety goal: can compliance with CDC hand hygiene guidelines be improved by a surveillance and educational program?

While establishing 2004 department goals, the new JCAHO Safety Goal of improving compliance with CDC hand washing recommendations was an appropriate department initiative for a hospital Wound Care Center. The purpose of the project was to improve physician compliance with hand hygiene. Nursing staff monitored physician hand washing and provided a compliance report to each physician.

A 4-year outcome-based retrospective study of wound healing and limb salvage in patients with chronic wounds.

This multicenter, retrospective study evaluated the wound healing and limb salvage outcomes over a 4-year period in 3,830 patients in 39 hospital-affiliated Wound Care Centers. These centers provide comprehensive outpatient wound care for chronic, nonhealing wounds. Two distinct outcomes were identified: (1) wound healing with comprehensive wound care (CWC) alone, and (2) wound healing with comprehensive wound care plus platelet releasate (CWC+PR).