Could A Novel Secondary Dressing Enhance Current Wound Dressing Benefits?

What options exist to improve dressing efficiency and safety in wound care? Classic options pose challenges to both caregivers and providers. In a poster presented at SAWC Spring, Animesh Bhatia, DPM, CWS examined a non-woven secondary dressing in a variety of clinical settings via a survey of providers and caregivers that looked at six primary criteria: comfort, fit, sizing, ease of use, speed of application and fixation of the primary dressing. Other characteristics including mild absorption and mild compression were also evaluated in the survey. The study took place over 8 weeks with 50 patients (24 female, 26 male) and included multiple wound types including: DFU, surgical wounds, arterial ulcers, pressure ulcers, lymphedema, and trauma.

The author found that the novel secondary bandage studied yielded high scores in the following areas:

·       Skin-friendliness (allowed for use with dermatitis or after topical cream/lotion application)

·       Coverage

·       Security (helped keep primary dressings secure)

·       Light compression

·       Comfort

·       Mild absorption

·       Utility potential with NPWT and compression wraps

·       Allows for wound monitoring due to reusable fastener

·       Speedy application

·       Intuitive use for caregivers

·       Efficiency for use in nursing home setting

·       Duration (can be left in place for 2-to-3 days before changing)

Dr. Bhatia says he became inspired to conduct this study after using some samples of this dressing on his own patients.

“We used it on various types of wounds in patients and in different clinical settings and were excited by the advantages it has over using rolled gauze bandages,” he explains. “This led to a desire to expand the trial into a formal case study.”

He relates that he finds the dressing can be used as a secondary bandage for all kinds of foot and ankle wounds, dermatoses, postop dressings, as part of a layered compression dressing, or with NPWT or total contact casts. In the office, he adds, there is potential for use after any minor procedure or in the OR as a final dressing layer.

“It is resilient, soft and comfortable to the patient, and for any type of caregiver or provider, much quicker and easier to apply, since no scissors or tape is needed and it has a reusable fastener,” he says.

Dr. Bhatia is the Assistant Medical Director of the wound clinic at Fairfield Medical Center and Medical Director of the wound management program at Select Specialty Hospitals in Columbus, OH. He is a Fellow and President of the American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management and a Diplomate of the American Academy of Wound Management.

Dr. Bhatia discloses that he is a consultant for Pedilay Care, and the study was funded by an unrestricted grant provided by Pedilay Care GmbH. He discloses that the data, assumptions and opinions are solely his own.