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.

Abstract

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.

• Authors: Valentina Dini, Marco Romanelli, Anneke Andriessen, Sabrina Barbanera, Maria Stefania Bertone, Cinzia Brilli, Martin Abel
• Journal: Advances in skin & wound care (Adv Skin Wound Care) Vol. 26 Issue 8 Pg. 352-9 (Aug 2013) ISSN: 1538-8654 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23860220 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Cellulose

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Analysis of Variance
• Bandages, Hydrocolloid
• Cellulose (pharmacology)
• Compression Bandages
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prospective Studies
• Severity of Illness Index
• Single-Blind Method
• Skin (drug effects, physiopathology)
• Skin Absorption (physiology)
• Statistics, Nonparametric
• Treatment Outcome
• Varicose Ulcer (diagnosis, therapy)
• Wound Healing (physiology)