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Aim: Addressing the challenge of infected or infection-prone wounds in wound care, a new antimicrobial hydro-active fibre dressing with silver nanoparticles was developed. This study aims to evaluate the product's performance, safety, and usability in managing such wounds.

Method: The clinical study was conducted at 6 centers in Germany and Austria. Eight wound managers treated 81 patients using the investigated product, performing at least 4 dressing changes over 7 to 28 days as instructed. Data was collected through an electronic questionnaire, and patients' average age was 66.88 ± 16.17 years.

Results / Discussion: The study included patients with various conditions (e.g., leg ulcers, postoperative wounds, burns, injuries, diabetic ulcers, traumatic wounds, bleeding-prone wounds). Of these, 41% were deep and 59% superficial. Exudation was moderate in 75% and high in 25%. Infection signs decreased by 2.64 on the Visual Analog Scale. Biofilm disappeared in 60%, partially in 31%. Practitioners achieved treatment goals at 95.3%, ensuring moisture, debridement, edge protection, healing support, exudate management, infection control, and prevention. The dressing removed debris in 100%, conformed in 98.8%, had gelation issues in 3.7%, and exudate spread in 26%. Maceration occurred in 2.5%. Exudate was directed into the secondary dressing in all cases. Intact removal was 100%, with 12.4% easily removable fibre residues. Adherence to the wound bed was in 5%. Atraumatic dressing changes occurred in all cases, and the dressing could be cut for every wound.

Conclusion: The study showed the new wound dressing is effective for managing infected or infection-prone wounds.

Situation

An 60 year old lady sustained a large complicated skin tear on her left leg, following a fall on a garden hose. She was admitted to ED for treatment and upon being discharged was assigned to the District Nurses to manage. She has multiple health conditions including Type 1 Diabetes, Osteoporosis & Rheumatoid Arthritis, and was a recipient of a pancreas kidney transplant in Dec 2022. A Haematoma (Wound 2) was also present on her leg.

Action(s) taken/ treatment provided

Steristrips were applied in the ED. Week 1 they were removed and a superabsorbent dressing & an atraumatic gel forming contact net were applied. The dressings were secured with bandages, padding and a stockinette. Autolytic debridement commenced on both wounds and antibiotics was administered in the week 3 due to an infection risk. Dressing changes were daily and by week 4 were every second day.

Outcome

By week 5, 95% of the Haematoma on the skin tear had been removed, epithelisation around the edges and centre of the wound were presents. In wound 2 large amounts of the hematoma had also been removed. Week 8 the skin tear had reduced in size by 12%, and 69% at week 14. The haematoma had reduced in size by 70%. Week 17 the exudate levels were minimal and the patient could now remove the dressings and shower prior to each visit from the nurse.

Lesson learned

The challenging wounds were successful managed improving the patients quality of life.

Situation

An 80 year old lady who lives in a rest home and has chronic, painful bilateral venous leg ulcers. Various dressings have been trialled with little change to the ulcers, which have been present for a year. Within this timeframe the ulcers had increased in size, and the levels of exudate being managed had not reduced.

Action(s) taken/ treatment provided

The evaluation to place over 5 weeks on the 80 year old lady in her rest home. Dressing changes were previously completed daily, and during the evaluation period with the new antimicrobial hydroactive fibre dressings, dressings were now only changed twice per week.

Outcome

In the first 2 weeks a reduction of slough and exudate was visible. After week 5 the size of the ulcer had reduced, the slough was no longer present and the exudate had been managed. The patient also reported a reduction in pain. The patient had reduced social activities as a result of her chronic leg ulcers and now with the positive clinical outcome, she could now to return to the activities available in the rest home,

Lesson learned

By Introducing the new antimicrobial hydroactive fibre dressing into the patients treatment plan, we discovered a clinical beneficial and cost effective option to effectively remove the slough, manage the exudate and reduce the size of the ulcer. These results lead to the patients improved quality of life because should could now partake in the social activities held in the rest home.

Aim: Addressing the challenge of infected or infection-prone wounds in wound care, a new antimicrobial calcium alginate dressing was developed. This study aims to evaluate the dressing's performance, safety, and ease of use in treating such wounds.

Method: The clinical study occurred at 5 German centers, treating 91 patients (46% male/54% female) with the investigated product. They followed instructions for at least 4 dressing changes over 7 to 28 days. Data was collected via an electronic questionnaire, with an average patient age of 69.46 ± 16.38 years.

Results / Discussion: The study included patients with various conditions (e.g., leg ulcers, postoperative wounds, pressure injuries, diabetic ulcers, arterial ulcers, and skin graft or donor sites. Among these, 42% were deep, and 58% superficial. Infection indicators decreased by 1.34 on the Visual Analog Scale. Practitioners achieved treatment goals at a 94% success rate, addressing moisture, debridement, wound edge protection, healing support, exudate management, infection control, prevention, and bleeding. The examined dressing had a 7.7% gel failure rate, maintaining 98.9% coverage. It efficiently removed debris in 97%, conformed to the wound in 98.9%, with 1.1% maceration. Exudate channeled into the secondary dressing in 97.2%. Dressing removal was in one piece in 97.8%, with 10.99% easily removable fibre residues. Adherence to the wound bed was 4.4%. Dressing changes were atraumatic in 97.8%, and 100% found ease of use, including cutting when dry, as very easy or easy.

Conclusion: The study confirmed the new wound dressing's excellent effectiveness in handling infected or infection-prone wounds.

This case study describes the use of a tubular bandage encompassing the whole limb to deliver successful NPWT in the treatment and reconstruction of extensive soft tissue damage extending from the right lower extremity to the hip in a 14-year-old female.

BACKGROUND

Edema in some subjects worsens over time and wraps help to reduce the leg volume.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

An adjustable compression wrap was tried on volunteers for 5 h and volumes measured in each limb before and after wrapping using a 3D surface scanner (HandySCAN 3D®) to estimate the volume of the leg. The contralateral leg was used as control.

RESULTS

We observed a significant decrease in volume in the wrap legs and an increase in the control legs (p < .001), both in the lower part of leg (p = .001) and in the upper part (p = .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Using the Readywrap® for 5 hours significantly reduces the leg volume. This study enables Readywrap to be studied in a population that is easy to observe in the context of a research program. The Handyscan3D® was shown accurate and reproducible to assess leg volume in future studies.