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Clinical Research
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Clinical performance of a foam dressing* in the treatment of chronic wounds - an observational study in 841 patients First Author: Petra Zoellner, PhD Authors: Holger Kapp, MS Hans Smola, MD We analyzed the promotion of wound healing and tolerance of a foam dressing* in the treatment of chronic wounds. In this prospective observational study, 306 physicians treated 841 patients with the foam dressing. Wound status was evaluated using a standardised questionnaire at the beginning of the study and over the course of three dressing changes. At the beginning of the study more than 36% of the wounds were heavily or completely covered with slough. After three dressing changes this percentage was reduced to 3.5%. The proportion of non-granulating wounds fell from 54% to 12% and wounds with severe or complete granulation rose from 2% to 34%. Patient-reported wound pain also improved. At the beginning of the study 41% of the patients reported severe or very severe pain sensation. After three dressing changes this percentage was reduced to 6%. The proportion of patients with no or only mild pain increased from 31% to 80%. Also peri-lesional skin benefited from the treatment with the foam dressing. At the initial examination physicians documented in 95% of the peri-lesional skin pathological findings and this was reduced to 60% at the end of the study. This observational study confirmed the efficacy of the foam dressing in an unselected panel of patients, mostly reflecting non-healing wounds encountered in daily practise. Owing to its absorption and retention capacity, the dressing maintained the balance between moist wound healing and efficient handling of excessive exudate thus effectively promoting tissue repair. * PermaFoam, HARTMANN-CONCO Inc. |
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