Occlusive Dressings and the Healing of Standardized Abrasions

Abstract

Context: Acute skin trauma during sport participation, resulting in partial-thickness abrasions, is common. The limited investigations focusing on the acute wound environment and dressing techniques and the subsequent lack of evidence-based standards complicate clinical wound care decisions.Objective: To examine the effects of occlusive dressings on healing of standardized, partial-thickness abrasions.Design: Controlled, counterbalanced, repeated-measures design.Setting: University laboratory.Patients or Other Participants: Sixteen healthy women (n 5 10) and men (n 5 6).Intervention(s): Four standardized, partial-thickness abrasions were inflicted. Film, hydrogel, and hydrocolloid occlusive dressings and no dressing (control) were applied. Participants returned on postwound days 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, and 14 for digital imaging. Wound healing time was measured by change in wound contraction (cm 2 ) and change in wound color (chromatic red) and luminance in red, green, and blue color values.Main Outcome Measure(s): Wound contraction, color (chromatic red), and luminance.Results: A day-by-dressing interaction was found for wound contraction, color, and luminance. Post hoc testing indicated that the film and hydrocolloid dressings produced greater wound contraction than the hydrogel and no dressing on days 7 and 10. Film, hydrogel, and hydrocolloid dressings also resulted in greater wound contraction than the control on day 14. Hydrocolloid dressings produced smaller measures of color and greater measures of luminance than no dressing on day 7. Film, hydrogel, and hydrocolloid dressings also resulted in smaller measures of color and greater measures of luminance compared with no dressing on days 10 and 14.Conclusions: When compared with the control (no dressing), the film, hydrogel, and hydrocolloid occlusive dressings were associated with a faster healing rate of partial-thickness abrasions across time measured by wound contraction, color, and luminance. Overall, these data indicate that occlusive dressings were more effective in healing than no dressing was.Key Words: wound management, skin trauma, moist environment Key Points N Partial-thickness abrasions treated with film, hydrogel, and hydrocolloid occlusive dressings healed more quickly, as measured by wound contraction, color, and luminance, than those receiving no dressing.N Additional studies are needed to determine the practicality, cost-effectiveness, and compliance level when occlusive dressings are used in the clinical setting.

Part 17: First Aid

“…Wounds heal better with less infection if they are covered with an antibiotic ointment or cream and a clean occlusive dressing (Class IIa, LOE A). [83][84][85] Apply antibiotic ointment or cream only if the wound is an abrasion or a superficial injury and only if the victim has no known allergies to the antibiotic.…”

Part 13: First Aid

“…Evidence from 2 small, nonrandomized LOE 2 trials in volunteers 208,209 and supportive evidence from 1 LOE 2 human study of other wound types 210 and 3 LOE 5 well-designed animal studies [211][212][213] demonstrated significantly shorter healing time of abrasions treated with any occlusive dressing or topical antibiotic versus no dressing or topical antibiotic.…”

Wound bed preparation: A novel approach using HydroTherapy

“…HydroTac provides a continuum of hydration that aids wound healing.  Faster wound healing (Winter, 1962;Dyson et al, 1988;Beam et al, 2008)  Promote epithelialisation rate (Winter, 1962;Eaglstein, 2001;Ågren et al, 2001;Varghese et al, 1986;Rubio, 1991;Madden et al, 1989;Wigger-Alberti et al, 2009)  Promote dermal/wound bed healing responses, e.g., cell proliferation, ECM synthesis (Svensjö et al, 2000;Dyson et al, 1992;Mosti, 2013;Korting et al, 2010;Chen et al, 1992;Leung et al, 2010;Field & Kerstein, 1994;Dowsett & Ayello, 2004;Katz et al, 1991)  ReducI can't es scarring (Atiyeh et al, 2003(Atiyeh et al, ,2004O'Shaughnessy et al, 2009;Mustoe & Gurjala, 2011;Tandara et al, 2007;Hoeksema et al, 2013)  Retention of growth factors at wound site (Svensjö et al, 2000;Hackl et al, 2014;Powers et al, 2013;Chen et al, 1992;Attinger et al, 2006;Vogt et al, 1995)  Lower wound infection rates (Kannon & Garret, 1995;Hutchinson & Lawrence, 1991;Lawrence, 1994)  Reduces pain perception (Wiechula, 2003;Metzger, 2004;Leaper et al, 2012;Coutts et al, 2008;Feldman, 1991;...…”