Analysis of Pressure Achieved by Various Materials Used for Pressure Dressings

BACKGROUND: To minimize the risk of complications, pressure dressings are frequently applied to wounds. The actual pressures yielded by different dressing materials and application techniques have not been documented. OBJECTIVE: To measure and compare pressures produced using various types of dressing tapes with and without a gauze roll. METHODS: An infant blood pressure cuff was adapted for use in a pressure dressing model. Investigators independently applied four strips of each of five different types of tape to the cuff when it was located in three settings: a hard inanimate surface, a subject's distal volar forearm, and the subject's forehead. RESULTS: Foam and plastic tapes produced more pressure under a simple dressing than three other commonly used tapes. Higher, more consistent pressures were achieved on the forearm than the forehead. Adding a gauze roll to the dressing consistently increased the pressure. CONCLUSION: The experimental model demonstrated substantial differences in pressures yielded by various pressure dressing materials.