preventing skin breakdown on coccyx of dd teenager

[veronica butterfly, ADN, RN]

Hello! I am a med/surg nurse and a mom to a 14 year profoundly developmentally delayed boy who has intractable seizures (lennox gaustalt). He is not able to walk, but can sit up. Spends much of his day on a very padded futon on the floor or in his wheelchair. When he is on his futon, he changes positions frequently from lying, turning, to sitting "indian style" He is very slim and the way he sits puts a lot of pressure on his coccyx. He cannot follow directions and wiggles out of position often. When he is in his wheelchair, he often 'thrusts' forward.

A few years ago, he had a bout of flu with diarrhea which gave him a wound on his coccyx (he is incontinent always). This healed up quickly, but left a red, blanchable spot which I have managed to protect up until now. I've used Eucerin or Lantiseptic as a barrier cream and always padded his surfaces well with eggcrate foam, etc. It has looked redder lately and today I noticed a very tiny piece of skin, like an opened blister, on the tailbone. I put barrier cream on it and he has been on his side much of the day (must instinctively know it hurts??) and it seems to have healed, but yet still red.

Any advice/experience on a good product to put on the coccyx to PREVENT another sore from occurring? I feel I can't always control his environment as I'm not with him 24 hrs a day... At work, we use duoderm or tegaderm on small wounds or skin tears, but I'm trying to prevent a sore, not cover one and get it to heal. I did go and get some Tegaderm and put it on him, I feel at least it may keep moisture off it and prevent abrasion.

Thanks for any input!

[kids]

The same things that are used to cover and heal a wound can also be used to prevent them.

[XB9S, BSN, MSN, EdD, RN, APN]

Without being able to look at and assess the wound it would be inappropriate for any member to offer advice on what dressings or preventative therapy to use. This is why the terms of service prevent us from offering medical advise.

If your unsure then you need to contact your sons healthcare provider so an assessment an be made and appropriate treatment prescribed

Thread closed.