Evaluation of a new polyurethane foam dressing.

The treatment of moderately to heavily exuding wounds requires a dressing that will remove excess exudate while ensuring optimum conditions at the wound site and preventing maceration of the surrounding skin tissue. This prospective, stratified, randomised clinical trial was designed to assess the performance and safety of a new polyurethane foam dressing compared with a hydrocellular dressing. Both dressings are currently available to community nurses for the treatment of these wound types. Sixty-one patients recruited to the trial. They were grouped according to wound type: 20 leg ulcers, 20 Grade 2 or Grade 3 pressure sores and 21 other wounds that included traumatic, acute and chronic wounds and burns. Patients were randomized to treatment and dressing changes and assessments were undertaken as required. Condition of the wound and surrounding skin, comfort, ease of use and leakage from the dressing were monitored at each assessment. Treatment continued for six weeks or until the wound was lightly exuding (defined as absence of leakage with the dressing remaining in place for more than four days on two consecutive occasions). Photographs and tracings of the wounds were taken weekly. The results showed that the two dressings were similar in performance in that they could remain in place for approximately 2.5 days, irrespective of wound type. There were no statistically significant differences in surrounding skin condition, reduction in wound size, patient comfort or ease of application and removal.