A COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTS OF SEMIPERMEABLE FOAM AND FILM SECONDARY DRESSINGS OVER ALGINATE DRESSINGS ON THE HEALING AND MANAGEMENT OF VENOUS ULCERS

The choice of secondary dressing affects the performance of the primary dressing; this study assessed the effects of a foam and film secondary dressing, used with a calcium alginate dressing as the primary dressing and also with compression stockings, on the healing and management of venous ulcers. After the presence of venous ulcers was confirmed, 10 patients were treated with alginate + foam dressing, and 10 patients were treated with alginate + film dressing. Patients were assessed six times at weekly intervals, as follows: photographing and tracing of wound, with ulcer size determined by sonic digitizer measurement; observation of skin surrounding the ulcer; amount of pain and wound condition graded on four-point numeric scales; and recording of number of dressing changes. Both groups had similar results in terms of changes in ulcer size, counts for wound condition scorer, and reduction of pain scores. The group treated with the foam secondary dressing had significantly fewer dressing changes than the film dressing group (87 to 192, respectively, p = 0.0038). The group receiving a foam dressing also had fewer problems with edgeroll and leakage, a lower incidence of sensitivity reaction, and higher patient acceptability. We conclude that, while both the foam and film dressings tested are efficacious as secondary dressings when used with an alginate dressing for management of venous ulcers, the foam dressings may be better suited for managing these patients.