An in-vitro study of the pressure-relieving properties of four wound dressings for foot ulcers

Abstract

This in-vitro study reports on a selection of mechanical tests on four wound dressings: Allevyn (Smith and Nephew), Biatain (Coloplast), Lyofoam (Seton Scholl) and Tielle (Johnson and Johnson). The aim of the study was to investigate these dressings in the laboratory by subjecting them to dry and wet compression tests, shearing tests and a cyclical test. As predicted, all dressings performed differently in the range of tests, with Lyofoam deforming the most when subjected to compression testing (5.6 mm). During wet compression, differences in the physical properties of all the materials tested were identified. During shearing testin, Allevyn and Tielle withstood the greatest shear deflection before failure, but Biatain withstood the greatest force before failing. During the cyclical testing, Lyofoam only reduced by 1% of its original thickness, while Biatain reduced by 30%. No one dressing performed better in all the tests. However, as an all-round 'pressure-relieving' dressing, Allevyn consistently outperformed the others in the study.

Dressing plantar wounds with foam dressings, is it too much pressure?

“…It may be that there are simply no significant differences between the foam dressings and a control dressing, or between the foam dressings themselves. This would fit with the earlier reported papers where there was a lack of significance (35–37). This may also provide useful information to practitioners involved in wound management as it means that dressing choice may not detrimentally affect plantar pressures and subsequent wound healing.…”

“…Of the three identified articles, the first, by Ashford and colleagues (35), reported an in vitro evaluation of the characteristics of four different foams readily available in the marketplace. This article was an overview of dressing material characteristics and durability that will prove useful for describing effects observed in in vivo studies of foam dressings during dynamic testing.…”

“…This article was an overview of dressing material characteristics and durability that will prove useful for describing effects observed in in vivo studies of foam dressings during dynamic testing. Four foam dressings (Allevyn ® , Biatain ® , Lyofoam ® and Tielle ® ) were put through a series of tests (35). This included a dry compression test, wet compression test, shear test and cyclical test procedure.…”

Influence of external forces (pressure and shear force) on superficial layer and subcutis of porcine skin and effects of dressing materials: Are dressing materials beneficial for reducing pressure and shear force in tissues?

“…Ashford et al 11 measured shear force associated with the use of wound dressings and documented that the pressure dispersion of wound dressings varied with the type of dressing.…”

Case reports on the use of antimicrobial (silver impregnated) soft silicone foam dressing on infected diabetic foot ulcers

“…Besides comparing wound healing characteristics such as healing rate, control of infection and effective moisture balance control, it might also be very useful to investigate the plantar pressure reduction properties of the above dressings as all of them had a foam layer to provide some degree of cushioning. Previously, there was only one in vitro study comparing the ‘pressure relieving’ characteristics of foam dressings, where Allevyn (Smith and Nephew) emerged as an all round pressure relieving dressing (27). Invariably, increased plantar foot pressure is an important factor in the aetiology of diabetic foot ulcers (28).…”