Report of a prospective trial of dextranomer beads (Debrisan) and silicone foam elastomer (Silastic) dressings in surgical wounds

Abstract

A prospective randomized controller trial of dextranomer beads (Debrisan) and silicone foam elastomer (Silastic) dressings in open infected surgical wounds has been performed. The results indicate that the healing time for wounds treated by Debrisan (n = 25) and elastomer (n = 25) is similar, being 40.92 +/- 3.98 and 36.90 +/- 3.18 days respectively. The time taken for wounds to become pain-free was similar in both treatment groups, as was the persistence of signs in the wounds of erythema, oedema and slough. Comparison of cost reveals the elastomer dressing to be considerably cheaper than Debrisan.

Systematic review of dressings and topical agents for surgical wounds healing by secondary intention

“…Study sizes ranged from 20 to 80 patients and a total of 611 patients were included. Six trials recruited patients with pilonidal sinuses after incision or excision15–17, 21, 22, 25, five described patients with postoperative abdominal wound breakdown18–20, 23, 24, one studied patients with perineal wounds after excision of the rectum13, and one included patients with below‐knee amputation wounds25.…”

“…Pain was reported in six of the 13 RCTs13, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24, but it was measured in different ways, such as the need for analgesia, and on a four‐, ten‐ or 100‐point visual analogue scale (VAS). In all of the five trials comparing gauze with a modern dressing, patients dressed with gauze experienced significantly more pain.…”

“…No raw data were given and so it was not possible to calculate a 95 per cent c.i. Regarding complications of the use of dressings, Young and Wheeler24 stated that there was no difference in complications between the groups in the time taken for the disappearance of erythema, oedema and slough, but no data were provided. Viciano et al 22 reported a significantly higher growth of pathogens in the gauze group as compared to the hydrocolloid group ( P = 0·03).…”

Foam Elastomer and Gauze Dressings in the Management of Open Perineal Wounds: A Cost‐Effectiveness Study

“…Several studies 2,5 have been performed to evaluate the use of foam elastomer dressings and it is generally accepted that the method is simple to use and associated with substantially less pain both generally and at the time of dressing changes for the patient. Some studies have suggested that this method involves less nursing time, 1 enhances the rate of wound healing 2 and may facilitate an earlier return to work for the patient. For these reasons some authorities now recommend the routine use of foam elastomer in certain situations.…”