Evaluation of three nonwoven sponges in the debridement of chronic wounds.

A total of 15 evaluable patients were entered into a non-randomized evaluation with a primary goal to determine the efficacy of three approved nonwoven sponges, an 8 x 8 mesh with 64 apertures per square inch, a 13 x 13 mesh with 169 apertures per square inch, and a 19 x 8 mesh with 152 apertures per square inch, in the debridement of necrotic and fibrotic tissue. Patients were assigned to one of three sponge categories and then followed on a twice-a-week basis for four weeks. At each visit, the wound status was evaluated for the presence of necrotic and fibrotic tissue in the wound. Wounds were cleansed with sterile saline solution, and a saline moistened nonwoven fluffed sponge was applied to the wound surface and covered with a secondary wound dressing. Dressings were changed twice a day. The results suggest that all products were effective in debridement of nonviable tissue, but the best overall results were obtained with the 8 x 8 mesh product which more effectively debrided the wounds than the nonwoven sponges with the smaller apertures. The study results suggest that open mesh 100 percent cotton nonwoven sponges are effective in debriding nonviable tissue with minimal damage to viable tissue when appropriately used and not allowed to desiccate.