A randomized trial of two occlusive dressings in the treatment of leg ulcers.

Two occlusive dressings--one zinc oxide medicated (Mezinc) and one hydrocolloid (Duoderm)--were compared in a prospective, randomized trial over a period of 8 weeks to determine their healing ability and effect on pain for venous and arterial leg ulcers. All patients were patch-tested before the study and colophony allergy was an exclusion criterion. Of the 43 outpatients included, 31 completed the trial and 6 patients randomized to each treatment group were withdrawn. The initial ulcer areas decreased after 8 weeks of treatment with Mezinc by 64% and by 48% after treatment with Duoderm. Ulcer pain was relieved in 50% of the patients--with a similar analgesic effect for the two dressings. Mezinc treatment was discontinued in 2 cases due to sensitization to colophony (one ingredient of Mezinc) which indicated a risk of contact allergy to colophony due to Mezinc treatment. 1103 consecutive eczema patients were patch-tested on the back with Mezinc and colophony 20% in petrolatum simultaneously. It was found that 42 (4%) of the patients showed allergic skin reactions to colophony and 19 (2%) to Mezinc. Both dressings were well tolerated by leg ulcer patients and there appeared to be no major differences in the efficacy of the two occlusive dressings.