Características do exsudato e da área perilesão das lesões dos atletas da caminhada ecológica do estado de Goiás

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The Goiás State Ecological Walk is a long-distance sporting event that exposes athletes to conditions conducive to the development of skin lesions, particularly pressure ulcers, which have yet to be thoroughly investigated in terms of exudate and the perilesional area. OBJECTIVE: To examine the role of exudate and the perilesional area in the healing process and to describe these characteristics in the lesions developed by athletes participating in the Ecological Walk in 2023 and 2024. METHODOLOGY: This was a descriptive study with a quantitative approach, conducted with 55 athletes selected through a screening process, 36 of whom had skin lesions. Data collection took place at two time points, before the event (D0) and on the penultimate day (D4), through structured interviews and direct observation, using a skin assessment form focused on exudate and the perilesional area. The data were organized on the REDCap platform and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Ethics committee approval: 69982623.0.00.0037 and opinion number: 6.137.377. RESULTS: A total of 87 lesions were evaluated, with a predominance of stage II pressure ulcers (72–88.9%), located primarily on the lower limbs. The average number of lesions per athlete was 2.1 in 2023 and 2.4 in 2024, with the highest incidence in D4. Hypopigmentation stood out as the main perilesional change (24.1%), followed by a normal appearance (24.1%) and blanchable erythema (13.8%). Regarding exudate, the dry or scant pattern predominated (63.3%), followed by a small amount (26.5%), with moderate or abundant cases being rare. Blisters, excoriations, nail loss, ingrown nails, and second-degree burns were also identified. CONCLUSION: It was demonstrated that exudate and the perilesional area are essential components in the assessment and healing process of skin lesions, with the balance of exudate being a determining factor for tissue regeneration. The predominance of dry or scant exudate suggests low inflammatory activity and early stages of the lesions, while hypopigmentation stood out as the main perilesional change. Long-distance runners were found to be more vulnerable to stage II pressure injuries, particularly in the lower limbs. Limitations related to underreporting and inconsistencies in records underscore the need for data standardization and further research. The role of nurses in the assessment and monitoring of these injuries is also noteworthy, contributing to the strengthening of evidence-based practice.