Use of a nanocrystalline silver dressing on lymphatic ulcers in patients with chronic lymphoedema

A prospective evaluation to explore the effect of treating patients with chronic lower limb lymphoedema and lymphatic ulcers using a nanocrystalline dressing and multilayer bandaging.

Ulcers were cleansed and dressed with a nanocrystalline silver dressing, an alginate dressing and a hydrocellular dressing, followed by multilayer short-stretch compression bandages. A digital planimetry system was used to calculate the ulcer surface area. In cases of multiple ulcers, the areas were added together.

Eight patients with chronic lower limb lymphoedema plus ulcers were included. Median age was 53.7 years (range 39.2-72.3). Mean ulcer size was 10.5cm2 (range: 0.8-33.8). All ulcers completely healed after one to nine weeks of treatment.

This protocol has been effective in healing lymphatic ulcers and was well accepted by patients. There were no adverse effects or withdrawals. Further studies with larger numbers of patients are required to support these results.