Clinical outcomes with gelling fibre and silicone-coated foam dressings: a prospective, multicentre study

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of a combined regimen of gelling fibre and adherent silicone-coated foam dressings on exuding hard-to-heal (chronic) wounds and their progression towards healing. Method: In this prospective, multicentre investigation, patients with moderately-to-highly exuding hard-to-heal wounds of at least four weeks' duration had non-adherent gelling fibre dressings overlaid with adherent silicone-coated foam dressings applied. Wound healing-related parameters were assessed over a period of up to 12 weeks, including: wound area; level of granulation tissue; amount of slough; level of exudate; and pain severity. Results: Exudating hard-to-heal wounds of 31 patients were evaluated over a 12-week period. There was a clinically significant reduction in wound area observed over the course of the investigation, along with decreased slough levels, increased granulation tissue formation, decreased exudate levels and a reduction in patient-reported pain severity scores. Over the course of the investigation, nine of the wounds completely healed. Conclusion: The findings of this study support the combined use of gelling fibre and adherent silicone-coated foam dressings on moderately-to-highly exuding hard-to-heal wounds of various aetiologies.