3M™ Tegaderm™ Hydrocolloid Thin Dressing
Chronic wounds are a frequently found problem in elderly and diabetic patients. This is usually due to poor circulation. A second reason is the bedridden patient gets pressure sores that don’t heal. Additionally, chronic wounds can also be due to a pathological invasion, most commonly bacterial or fungal.
The characteristics of chronic wounds include the loss of skin and usually, underlying tissue. These wounds do not heal by traditional methods and usually need the intervention of skilled medical professionals.
Pressure wounds carry their own name. They are usually known as decubiti. Decubiti are caused by a bone pressing on the skin, where the body is in contact with bedding, mattress, or seat.
The process of curing decubiti is usually Assessment, Debridement, Cleansing, Nutrition (in the case of Diabetes or peripheral artery disease) and the use of chemically treated bandages that retain moisture and allow proper breathing.
A moist wound environment has been shown to promote healing. Air dried wounds will impede the healing process. 3M products like Tegaderm produce a barrier that does not allow the moisture to escape. The other important aspect of wound care is when the bandage is removed; it does not disturb the healing process. Once again, the Tegaderm design is a picture frame that surrounds the wound, thereby only adhering to healthy skin, not the wound.
The material the dressing is made of should be transparent, adhesive, and usually a polyurethane membrane. A wound care dressing would offer the following characteristics to be suitable for wound care:
Waterproof and occlusive, retains moisture, impermeable to bacteria and contamination, promote autolysis and epithelialization, wound visibility, and non absorbent.
POLYSKIN® II Transparent Dressing
The wound dressing should be changed every 5-7 days. The use of Kendall wound dressings is not without risk and they should not be used with moderate to heavy exudates. Dressings can also macerate surrounding skin.
Other wound dressing brands that would be suitable are Mepitel (Silicon Dressing) Molnlycke Health Care, Convatec, Johnson and Johnson Bioclusive, Polyskin, KendallComfeel and Opsite, These are all plain Transparent Dressing with a picture frame adhesive.
