Treating recalcitrant diabetic wounds with hyaluronic acid: a review of patients.

The wound healing process in the patient with diabetes can be adversely affected by many factors, including unrelieved pressure, infection, and concurrent underlying conditions. In addition, a static wound may exacerbate patient anxiety or depression and indirectly further delay the healing process while increasing the risk of complications. The polysaccharide hyaluronic acid has long been known to be an integral component of the extracellular matrix in the dermis and other tissues and is implicated in the process of wound healing and tissue repair. Research has shown the benefit of using a novel ester of hyaluronic acid to accelerate the healing process and effectively treat diabetic foot ulceration and other difficult-to-heal chronic wounds. The effects of care using hyaluronic acid on three patients with challenging wounds are presented.

Clinical and scientific data of a hydropolymer range of dressings.

The Tielle trade mark family (Johnson and Johnson Medical) is a range of hydropolymer foam dressings that come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and are designed to fit the different types and locations of wounds that occur in practice. There are three types: Tielle, Tielle Lite and Tielle Plus. Each can be based on the characteristics of the primary dressing, if any, and on the degree of exudate that the wound is producing. This article aims to give an overview of the range and a summary of research-based clinical and scientific evidence to support clinical practice.

Evaluating the effectiveness of a dressing for use in malodorous, exuding wounds.

Malodorous, exuding wounds can cause problems for patients in terms of discomfort and social isolation. A prospective, noncomparative, multicenter study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of an odor-controlling dressing in the management of patients with chronic and acute exuding, malodorous wounds. Forty-six patients with various malodorous wounds (mean duration prior to study entry of 231.6 weeks) participated in the study. The majority of the patients were > 65 years of age (mean 70.7 years). Wound characteristics, odor, and dressing exudate absorption were assessed at baseline and at every dressing change (total: 348 dressing changes). Overall assessment of the dressing's ability was rated as good or excellent for odor control (91% of patients), exudate management (82%), and overall comfort (86%). Patient and nurse perception of odor were similar. While appropriate treatment to address the cause of exudate and wound odor remains a priority, the results of this study suggest that discomfort and isolation may be reduced through the use of odor-control dressings.

Avance: silver hydropolymer dressing for critically colonized wounds.

Avance is a hydropolymer dressing that has a silver compound bonded into it. The silver acts as a bacterial shield to prevent bacterial invasion, and as a bacterial barrier to impede cross-infection. This article aims to give an overview of the use of silver in eradicating surface bacteria, and provides case study evidence of the use of Avance on the leg ulcers of two patients. Both patients had complex medical histories and underlying aetiologies that delayed the wound-healing process.