Martin Abel

Randomized controlled trial comparing treatment outcome of two compression bandaging systems and standard care without compression in patients with venous leg ulcers.

Background  In Hong Kong, at the time of the study, compression treatment was not considered usual care for venous leg ulcer patients.

Improvement of periulcer skin condition in venous leg ulcer patients: prospective, randomized, controlled, single-blinded clinical trial comparing a biosynthetic cellulose dressing with a foam dressing.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of a biosynthetic cellulose wound dressing (BWD) to stimulate wound healing in patients with a venous leg ulcer on periulcer skin condition when compared with standard care using a foam dressing. METHODS: Each patient with a venous ulcer received compression therapy with a short stretch bandage system and either a BWD + foam (study group [SG]) or foam (control group [CG]). Periulcer skin condition was compared with the untreated lower leg skin and the forearm skin, using noninvasive parameters, comparing day 0 versus day 28 results. Ulcers were further evaluated for healing rate. The study period was 28 days, and the follow-up period was 12 weeks. Fifty patients were recruited to the study, of which N = 46 (SG, n = 26; CG, n = 20) completed the 28-day study period and were included in the analysis. RESULTS: The BWD showed a more improved periulcer skin condition versus the CG. Transepidermal water loss was significantly less in the SG (P = .003), as well as the results shown with the chromatometer (P =. 05). Ulcer healing rate was also statistically significant in favor of the SG (P = .0001). CONCLUSION: Treatment for the BWD + foam group was shown to be safe and significantly improved periwound skin condition, leading to more expeditious wound healing than treatment with foam alone.

In vitro Evaluation of the Cleansing Effect of a Monofilament Fiber Debridement Pad Compared to Gauze Swabs

Background: Removal of nonvital tissue is an accepted method to eradicate biofilms and to stimulate wound healing. Debridement using a monofilament polyester fiber pad has clinically been shown to be effective as well as pain and trauma free. Methods: For in vitro determination of the cleansing capacity of this product compared to gauze swabs, a wound debridement model was used with glass plates coated with a bovine serum albumin solution, stained with hematoxylin. Both products were moistened and fixed to a weight connected to a regulated motor and were then pulled over the holding device with the coated glass plate under standardized conditions (power = 0.067 N/cm2, velocity = 1.6 cm/s). Results: At a low coating concentration (0.5%) both products were equally effective, but at a high concentration (1.5%) cleansing did not occur after 5 wipes. When wiping the plates 15 times, the debridement pad cleansed significantly (p < 0.001) better than gauze. When consecutively wiping 4 coated plates with a single debridement pad or swab, the pad exhibited and maintained a significantly higher cleansing capacity while gauze quickly lost its effect. Conclusion: Our in vitro test results indicated a higher cleansing capacity of the debridement pad compared to gauze swabs.

Contents Vol. 29, 2016

N. Ahmad, Madison, Wis. C. Antoniou, Athens J.M. Baron, Aachen E. Benfeldt, Roskilde E. Berardesca, Rome K. De Paepe, Brussels P. Elsner, Jena A. Farkas, Zurich N. Garcia Bartels, Berlin M.W. Greaves, London R.H. Guy, Bath S. Hedtrich, Berlin E.M. Jackson, Bonney Lake, Wash. H. Kandárová, Ashland, Mass. L. Kemeny, Szeged J. Kresken, Viersen J. Krutmann, Düsseldorf B. Lange-Asschenfeldt, Klagenfurt am Wörthersee R. Neubert, Halle T. Ruzicka, Munich M. Schäfer-Korting, Berlin M. Schmuth, Innsbruck S. Seidenari, Modena P.W. Wertz, Iowa City, Iowa J. Wohlrab, Halle L. Zastrow, Monaco Journal of Pharmacological and Biophysical Research