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Mölnlycke® Positioning Solutions
Continuous head-to-heel protection for reduced Pressure Injury risk and therapeutic positioning
Patient positioning and device rotation are two of the five nursing interventions for pediatric pressure injuries identified by the Children’s Hospital Alliance. The wide range of Mölnlycke's positioning systems makes them a versatile tool for patient positioning as well as offloading medical devices.
Z-FLO FLUIDIZED POSITIONERS
Easily-customizable fluidized pressure redistribution devices to assist in positioning and repositioning patients
Patient positioning and, more importantly, repositioning is recommended as part of a successful pressure ulcer prevention protocol. ¹ Mölnlycke® Z-Flo™ Fluidized Positioners offer the ability to uniquely conform to and support the patient’s body in a comfortable position until time to reposition again.
Z-Flo Fluidized Positioners are used to redistribute force over a greater surface area or to help offload bony prominences while maintaining neutral body alignment. Unlike beanbag positioners and pillows, these unique fluidized positioners are not subject to the effect of gravity or memory. Once molded to meet the anatomic needs of an individual patient, they will hold that shape until remolded, and are available in a range of sizes.
Z-Flo positioners can be used to help protect the occiput by providing pressure redistribution while maintaining proper head and neck alignment. You can also easily mold space to protect the ears or to create channels for medical devices. Other areas of use include the shoulders, back, hips, knees and ankles to support a side-lying position. Rather than use pillows or other make-shift offloading tools, you can use Z-Flo positioners to float or offload heels for a patient in the supine position.
Benefits of Mölnlycke® Z-Flo™ Fluidized Positioners
• Won’t flatten or heat up like rolled towels and blankets ²
• Doesn’t shift, lose shape or retain moisture like foam rings and wedges ³
• Are not subject to the effect of gravity, unlike beanbag positioners and other tools
• Conforms to and supports the patient’s body in a comfortable, therapeutic position until next reposition
• Molds to the individual patient and anatomic shapes
• Redistributes force over a greater surface area or helps offload bony prominences
• Suitable for use in adult and pediatric populations
• For single patient use only but can travel with patient across care continuum
• Not made from natural rubber latex or DEHP
Z-FLEX HEEL BOOT
The heel is the second most common location for pressure ulcers in adults. ⁴ A heel pressure injury can be devastating to patient mobility and quality of life, and can lead to osteomyelitis and even limb amputation. ⁵ Patients who are more prone to heel pressure ulcer development include those suffering from risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, vascular disease, immobility and an overall Braden Scale score of 18 or less. ⁴
International guidelines recommend that off-loading devices should completely lift the heel from the bed. ¹ The Mölnlycke® Z-Flex™ Fluidized Heel Boot was designed to lift the heel while being comfortable to wear and easy to use.
The Z-Flex boot combines Mölnlycke’s unique fluidized positioner with a single low-pressure air chamber. The fluidized positioner molds and contours around the vulnerable Achilles tendon, supporting and protecting the tendon. The air chamber in the boot uses Positive Air Displacement to redistribute pressure from the heel and Achilles tendon to the whole lower leg. This adds comfort while encouraging natural alignment of the leg without the need for a wedge or pillow.
Benefits of Z-Flex™ Fluidized Heel Boots
• Designed to offload the heel and maintain an anatomically neutral foot position
• Built-in foot gate provides easy access for skin assessments without boot removal
• Z-Flo contours around vulnerable Achilles tendon
• Adjustable ankle straps accommodate a variety of leg sizes
• Compatible with sequential compression devices
• Integrated air chamber reduces the risk of hyperextension of the knee
• Drives high patient and staff satisfaction
TORTOISE TURNING & POSITIONING SYSTEM
Repositioning a patient effectively is one of the cornerstones of pressure ulcer (PU) prevention. ¹ But repositioning your patients isn’t always as easy as it sounds – they can be heavy, frail, or both – so safety is critical to protect patients and you, the caregiver. ²
What if there was a way to move patients into the right therapeutic position with ease? A way to reduce the physical load when turning, while still enabling your expert hands to maneuver for the best position?
Now there is. The Mölnlycke® Tortoise® Turning and Positioning System is designed to make it easier for you to move patients safely into position with less physical exertion – and it’s proven to reduce caregiver back injuries related to patient turning and repositioning. ⁶
In more than one facility, staff not only reported greater ability to turn and position patients safely off their sacrum and trochanter, but also the ability of the device to help maintain these positions. ⁷ And it’s regarded by clinicians as easy to use. ³
The Tortoise system includes a positioning mat with a low-pressure air chamber designed to adapt to the patient by positive air displacement. The low-friction mat is fitted with ergonomic handles on both sides, so you and a colleague both maintain proper body mechanics as you turn the patient. Then, our ground-breaking Mölnlycke® Z-Flo™ Fluidized Positioners can be molded to maintain the right therapeutic position – and this is as simple as you molding the fluidized positioner with your hands into the exact shape for each individual patient.
The Tortoise Turning and Positioning System also has an option that facilitates moving patients into a prone position.
Benefits of Tortoise Turning and Positioning System
• Can help reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers and associated costs ⁶ ³
• Reinforced handles with an ergonomic grip to maintain proper body mechanics
• Can be used to move patients into a prone position
• May save money on specialty bed rental ⁶ ⁷
• Helps ease patient turning
• Helps redistribute pressure over the patient’s sacrum and buttocks
• Proven to reduce caregiver back injuries related to patient turning and repositioning ⁶
‘References’
1. National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP), European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (EPUAP), Pan Pacific Pressure Injury Alliance (PPPIA). Prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers: clinical practice guideline. Haesler, E.(ed). Perth, Australia: Cambridge Media; 2014.
2. AORN Ergonomic Tool 2: Positioning and Repositioning the Supine Patient on the OR Bed. Thomas Waters, PhD, CPE; Manon Short, RPT, CEAS; John Lloyd, PhD, MErgS, CPE; Andrea Baptiste, MA(OT), CIE; Lorraine Butler, MSA, BSN, RN, CNOR; Carol Petersen, MAOM, BSN, RN, CNOR; Audrey Nelson, PhD, RN, FAA. AORN Journal 93 (April 2011). Pg 445-449.
3. Brennan, M.R. et al. Using conformational positioning to reduce hospital acquired pressure ulcers. Journal of Nursing Care Quality 2014;29(2):182-187. 23
4. Delmore B, Lebovitz S, Suggs B. Risk factors associated with heel pressure ulcers in hospitalized patients. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2015;42(3):242-248.
5. Black J. Preventing pressure ulcers occurring on the heel. Wounds International Vol 4. eSupplement. ©Wounds International 2013.
6. Trevellini, C. Connecting the dots: pressure ulcer prevention and safe patient handling. Poster presentation at National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel Biennial Conference, Orlando, Florida, United States of America, 2015.
7. Elling R. Use of a positive air displacement safe patient handling system to reduce facility acquired pressure ulcers. Poster presentation.
8. Power, Jan. Two Methods for Turning and Positioning and the Effect on Pressure Ulcer Development A Comparison Cohort Study. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2016;43(1):46-50.
