Local treatment of chronic wounds

Abstract

Lokaltherapie chronischer Wunden Phlebologie 2016; 45: 106–112 http://dx.doi.org/10.12687/phleb2297-2-2016 Received: November 29, 2015 Accepted: December 07 ,2016 A wide range of modern wound dressings are available in Germany today and it is difficult to keep track of them because new products are continuously appearing on the market. This article summarises the various options for the treatment of chronic wounds, based on problems of relevance to everyday practice. The use of modern dressings appropriate to the stage of the wound can really only be based on empirical observations, because comparative studies are lacking. This article therefore makes no claim to be an exhaustive review. Before deciding on the most suitable wound dressing, the cause of the wound must always be established first and appropriate causal treatment instituted (e.g. compression therapy for venous leg ulcers, revascularisation for arterial leg ulcers or immunosuppression in the case of pyoderma gangrenosum). When prescribing wound dressings, the sometimes considerable costs must generally be taken into account. In addition, they must be easy to apply and remove completely, must offer mechanical protection, absorb wound secretion in a reliable manner and be permeable to carbon dioxide, oxygen and water vapour. Further requirements on wound dressings include thermal insulation and the prevention of dehydration (principle of moist wound treatment). They should be made from hypoallergenic, non-toxic materials and be sterile-packed. (1) Dressing appropriate for phase of wound healing