Wound dressing is selected taking into account, first of all, the nature, depth, extent and origin of the wound, burns or bedsores. Extremely important when it comes to choosing a dressing is whether the wounds that require dressing are free from bacteria or infected. On which wounds should silver, hydrogel, hydrocolloid and other dressings be applied? Learn about the types of dressings.
Wound dressingmust be appropriate to the needs. Both traditional and new generation dressings are available in pharmacies. The former will work well in the case of minor cuts, abrasions or scratches. The latter, referred to as active dressings, are designed not only to mechanically protect the wound against external factors, but also to provide the right environment for the regeneration of damaged tissue.
Wound dressings - types
There are several divisions of dressings. One of them divides the dressings into protecting against infection, compression, holding the foreign body in the body, immobilizing and cold compresses. A more practical division is the one that suggests the circumstances in which the selected dressing should be used.
The simplest dressing is considered to be the so-calledwound dressing plasters . It's a simple gauze or cotton compress and a piece of plastic adhesive. However, it is worth knowing what other possibilities are.
Traditional dressings aregauze or compressed cotton compresses . They do not support the wound healing process and only slightly absorb the exudate. They can lead to mechanical damage to the newly formed tissue. Therefore, it is best to use them on the smallest, cleansed wounds, as a temporary protection against contamination.
- Hydrogel dressings
Their task is to keep the wound moist. It is used to allow the wound to cleanse itself. They can be combined with specialist silver-containing dressings, which prevents the further development of infection in the wound.
- Gel dressings
They are to keep the wound moist and clean it. They may contain antibacterial substances, e.g. octenidine. We use them when there is too little exudate in the wound or the wound needs to be cleaned of e.g. necrotic tissues. They can be combined with specialist silver-containing dressings, which protects against infection.
- Dressingshydrocolloid
Applies to wounds with very little exudate. When a dressing is applied to a wound, it reacts with the exudate to form a gel that facilitates the formation of new tissue and thus accelerates wound healing. The wound remains moist. These dressings are most often used in the treatment of superficial wounds.
- Hydrofibre dressings
Their main feature is significant fluid absorption and that is why they are used on wounds with high exudate, such as bedsores, wounds with fistulas, infected wounds and wounds arising at the diabetic foot. They should not be used to treat dry or dead tissue wounds.
Hydrofiber dressings have a soft and loose structure, making them easy to adjust to different types of wounds. When placed on a wound, they form a hydrophilic gel which combines with bacteria and necrotic debris. The dressing is permeable to moisture.
- Alginate dressings
They absorb liquids strongly. Usually use them on bleeding wounds as the alginate fibers inhibit bleeding.
- Wound dressings with silver
They are bactericidal both on the surface of the wound and inside it. They create an impermeable barrier to bacteria and viruses. As a result, the healing process is faster.
These dressings do not irritate the wound and adapt to its surface. They are recommended for the treatment of a wide variety of infected wounds, including pressure ulcers and diabetic foot.
They may stain the exudate gray or blue, but this is a normal reaction. Silver dressings may be in the form of hydrofibre or foam dressings.
- Mesh dressings
It is recommended for flat wounds resulting mainly from 1st or 2nd degree burns. They can be used to rub the epidermis, but only if there are no signs of infection.
Their main task is to accelerate wound healing, clean it and reduce pain. A gel dressing containing octenidine is recommended under this dressing.
- Foam (polyurethane) dressingsotherwiseocclusive dressings
They effectively separate the wound from the external environment as the foam adheres tightly to the skin. These dressings are recommended for the treatment of wounds with medium and high exudation and for wounds in anatomically difficult places, e.g. in the area of joints. They are impermeable to liquids and bacteria, but they are also permeable to water and water vapor.
- Sterile dressings
These are those that do not contain any microorganisms, i.e. bacteria and their formsspores, fungi and their spores, as well as viruses. Before being packed, the sterile dressing must undergo a special sterilization process, i.e. the destruction of all microorganisms.
Sterile compresses are used for general dressing of various types of wounds. Due to their neutral nature, they can be used as a bottom layer, adhering to the wound.
- Bedsores dressings
Selected taking into account not only the severity of the pressure ulcer (expressed using the commonly used Torrance scale) but also the nature of the wound. Depending on the needs, dressings (plasters) for bedsores are to provide a suitable environment for wounds, absorb exudate, protect against the multiplication of bacteria, and protect against mechanical injuries.
For shallow, dry wounds or with very little exudation, a polyurethane dressing can be used. A special polyurethane foam absorbs exudate, and an additional hydrogel layer helps to maintain a moist environment, while preventing the dressing itself from sticking to the wound, so changing the dressing is not painful for the patient.
When exudate is high, hydrocolloid dressings are recommended to absorb wound exudate, enclosing it in a gel structure, while providing a moist environment, ideal for tissue reconstruction.
In the case of infected wounds, dressings with a hydrophobic polyamide mesh coated with silver are used. Upon contact with a wound, silver ions are released and have an antibacterial effect.
- Post-operative and post-operative dressings
It is assumed to absorb wound exudate and to provide a dry environment. These dressings dry and ventilate the wound and protect it against excess moisture, which may become an environment conducive to the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms.
Most of the dressings used after operations or surgical procedures are made of a hydrophobic mesh and an absorbent layer of cotton wool.
The mesh is in direct contact with the wound but is dry. The exudate passes into the cotton layer. This also protects the wound from sticking to the surface of the dressing.
- Dressings for burns and ulcers
For such wounds, it is recommended to use hydrogel dressings, which keep the so-called Wet wound environment. The hydrogel dressing consists mostly of water. The dressing is supposed to cool, as if to extract the temperature from the wound. The dressing also absorbs exudate, ventilates the wound, relieves pain and prevents the growth of bacteria.
About the author
Anna Jarosz A journalist who has been involved for over 40 yearsin popularizing he alth education. Winner of many competitions for journalists dealing with medicine and he alth. She received, among others The "Golden OTIS" Trust Award in the "Media and He alth" category, St. Kamil awarded on the occasion of the World Day of the Sick, twice the "Crystal Pen" in the national competition for journalists promoting he alth, and many awards and distinctions in competitions for the "Medical Journalist of the Year" organized by the Polish Association of Journalists for He alth.
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