ABSTRACT
Background: This study was to show the advantage of Honey dressing over conventional saline dressing in the management of chronic non healing ulcer. Materials and methods: This was an open study comparing conventional normal saline dressing and honey dressing in the management of chronic non healing ulcers done during July 2014 to June 2015 in general surgical wards of government TD medical college, Alappuzha. Results: Factors assessed include average hospital stay, culture sterility pre and post dressing, their outcome plan (discharged, amputated or grafted), whether diabetes and vascular compromise has altered the results in two groups etc. As in evidence with ancient literature and studies in modern literature it was proved that irrespective of age, sex, distribution of diabetes and vascular compromise in Doppler; honey dressing was significantly advantageous over conventional normal saline dressing in terms of culture sterility, better outcome plan as well as less stay in hospital. Conclusion: The honey dressing is a better alternative to conventional normal saline dressing which can also pave way for decrease in antibiotic resistance.
ABSTRACT
Background: The diabetic foot ulcer is a major complication of diabetes mellitus. (1) It occurs in 15% of all patients with diabetes and precedes 84% of all lower leg amputations. (2) Diabetes mellitus impedes wound healing by prolonging the inflammatory phase. Increased glucose in the tissue precipitates infection. (3) Diabetic microangiopathy which affects microcirculation. Increased glycosylated hemoglobin decreases the oxygen dissociation. Increased glycosylated tissue protein decreases the oxygen utilization. This study is intended to show the efficacy of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) dressing for a faster healing of diabetic ulcers when compared with the conventional saline dressing. Materials and Methods: This study was a prospective case–control comparative study conducted at the Department of General Surgery and Gastroenterology, father Muller Medical College, Mangalore, from August to July 2016. 80 consenting patients who met the predefined criteria were taken for the study and divided into two groups, 40 patients each is put in the CMC with silver dressing group and the conventional saline dressing group. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of gender, age, glycemic control, and site of ulcer P < 0.001. In our study, we found that there was statistically significant difference in the rate of infection between the two groups. Conclusion: Silver impregnate dressings have a role in the management of diabetic ulcers by reducing the local burden of infection which is an important cause for non-healing ulcer analgesia.