Pilot study of a unique film dressing for the treatment of donor site wounds.

The clinical benefits of using the VENTEX Wound Dressing System (VWDS) (The Kendall Co.) in the management of donor site wounds were evaluated in this pilot study involving 10 informed and consenting patients. The study was a prospective, randomized, controlled study in which one donor site wound was managed with VWDS, and the other donor site wound on the same patient was managed by our standard of care, which involved the use of Xeroform gauze (The Kendall Co.). Each donor site wound was independently assessed daily for pain, rate of reepithelialization, adverse reactions, and ease of dressing use while patients were hospitalized. Quality of scar was assessed during regularly scheduled follow-up visits. The use of VWDS eliminated donor site pain and accelerated reepithelialization compared with Xeroform gauze. There were no adverse reactions associated with the use of VWDS. In contrast, there were two cases of suspected infection at the donor sites treated with Xeroform gauze. The VWDS was more complicated to apply and use compared with Xeroform gauze. There were no differences observed in scar quality of donor sites treated with these dressings.

Computer analysis of the performance of the BTE Work Simulator.

The BTE Work Simulator (Baltimore, Therapeutic Equipment Co., Hanover, Md.) recreates the work environment by providing a rotatable shaft to which a variety of tools can be attached. The patient can simulate the coordinated muscle and joint movements involved in the work situation, exercising either isometrically or isotonically, and thereby increase the potential for return to work. The BTE Work Simulator has four major components: the exercise head to provide variable resistance, tools that attach to the exercise head, a control console containing a microprocessor that calculates work and power, and the Quest software package (Baltimore Therapeutic Equipment Co.). Quest provides four static/isometric and seven dynamic/isotonic tests that can be used to document the extent of a patient's impairment. In addition, it has daily treatment options and acts as an extensive data base capable of retrieving any stored test or treatment results. This software system greatly facilitates the use of the BTE Work Simulator by providing instant calculations of power and coefficients of variation, immediate patient feedback, graphic expansion of the data, and printed evaluation reports.

Adaptive housing: remodeling considerations for the disabled.

The disabled are handicapped only to the extent that they are prevented from being normal. The process of normalization is hampered by physical barriers in the home that make life difficult for disabled persons. Staff can be trained to eliminate these architectural barriers in the home, focusing primarily on accessibility, the bathroom, the bedroom, and the kitchen. Completion of the barrier-free design of the home should provide a cost-effective means for improving the quality of life for disabled persons and their families.