Is Wound HeaIing Time Affected by the Type of Dressing?

Albert B. Lowenfels, MD
Posted: 01/05/2009
The authors conducted a randomized trial to compare simple gauze dressing (209 patients) with occlusive moist
dressing (209 patients) in patients with open wounds. The majority of wounds were related to previous surgery or
trauma, most of which were located on the abdomen. Occlusive dressings included foam, alginates, hydrogels, etc.
The main endpoint was length of time until complete healing. There was no significant difference between median
healing times: 66 days for an occlusive dressing, and 45 days for a gauze dressing (! = .31). For postoperative
wounds, healing was significantly quicker using a gauze dressing (! = .02).
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/585349
Wound Healing Dressings and Drug Delivery Systems:
A Review
JOSHUA S. BOATENG,1 KERR H. MATTHEWS,2 HOWARD N.E. STEVENS,1 GLLAN M. ECCLESTON1
Wound dressings and devices form an important
segment of the medical and pharmaceutical
wound care market worldwide. n the past,
traditional dressings such as natural or synthetic
bandages, cotton wool, lint and gauzes all with
varying degrees of absorbency were used for the
management of wounds. Their primary function
was to keep the wound dry by allowing evaporation
of wound exudates and preventing entry of
harmful bacteria into the wound. t has now been
shown however, that having a warm moist wound
environment achieves more rapid and successful
wound healing. Recognition of the importance of cleanliness and
good aseptic practice in medicine and surgery has
led to improvements in the quality of wound
management materials.
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Efficient and cost-effective management of excessive wound exudate continues to present unique challenges to
nurses. Accurate patient and wound assessment is essential to inform the treatment and selection of suitable
dressings. The wide range of modern wound management products should be sufficient to meet the needs of every
wound type at all phases of healing, and as circumstances change. However, there are still situations in which nurses
are having to change dressings a number of times in 24 hours to prevent maceration (i.e. the softening and whitening
of skin that is kept constantly wet), soiling, and the potential for cross-infection. There is no easy solution to the
problem, but as nurses become more knowledgeable about identifying and managing the causes of excessive
exudate, the available management options, and, as dressing materials become more sophisticated, practice should
improve in this are
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