By Sheri Coil – with the assistance of Brandi
The following is the way we wrap the hands (and arms while we are so near) to reduce the mittening deformity that RDEB causes.
After cleansing and debriding I use a lot of Alwyn cream or what ever else I have used before it came along. The open wound or skinless areas get Mepital first, then Vaseline gauze.
We have had excellent luck with the Mepital preventing sticking bandages. The oozy serum stuff can drain right through it to be absorbed by outer gauze. And the creams and ointments can get back to the wounds. The Vaseline puts up a further barrier to sticking.
The gauze starts on the top of the hand. I use Kendall conform 1″. You can see the Mepital under the Vaseline gauze. Please note that the wounds on this arm are all self inflicted from scratching. The areas she doesn’t scratch are very clean. I used this area to demo on because it needs the works as far as under gauzes
The gauze then goes around the thumb a couple of times, until it is wrapped and then around the hand, over the top and around the first finger, around it til wrapped, and around the hand to the next finger…..
After the fingers are wrapped, I go around the hand and come up through each web space. Two going around the first way and then an extra half wrap around the wrist to make the last one cross over the first two. Clear as mud, huh? Ggg
Then I wrap a two inch Kendall Conform bandage over the wrist, around the hand one loop and then through the thumb space and on around the arm on up Coming back down the arm, I pad the armpit, elbow and anywhere bad and roll the bandage right over it. I use Kerlix for that padding, cut to what I need. I just roll the bandage on.
No pulling, but not loose. It just needs to support the skin, not cut off circulation or cause mis-shaping over time.
I use tube gauze over everything. I do not like to use tape at all.
Here she is, all ready to go! 🙂 Our Dancing Queen 🙂
Here is the Video of the wrapping technique recorded in January 1998