An Investigation into the Prevention of Blistering in Post-Operative Wounds : Results of a Delphi Survey

Surgical patients are at risk of developing postoperative
wound complications, including blistering
and infection, especially following orthopaedic surgery
1,2
• Incidences of wound blistering have been reported
in the literature of between 6 – 24% 2, 3, 4, 5
• Wound blisters can increase wound pain, delay
wound healing and increase the susceptibility to
wound infection 6
• Consequently, the length of an ‘in patient’ hospital
stay can be prolonged, increasing costs and adversely
affecting the morbidity/mortality rates 6
• Currently, the literature is equivocal as to whether
the choice of wound dressing has an effect on wound
complication rates