Wound dressings. A comparison of classes and their principles of use.

Selection of an appropriate wound dressing, to potentiate healing, demands knowledge about varying classes of dressings. With the growing number of wound dressings available, health care providers must understand both the principles of dressing development as well as the qualities of each individual product. The author compares five classes of wound dressings: hydrocolloids, hydrogels, films, foams, and sodium/calcium alginates. Also, principles of dressing selection and long-term wound management guidelines are presented.