Resolving Epibole With Polymeric Membrane Dressings in Home Care

The management of chronic (nonhealing) wounds with epibole is challenging and costly, especially when the problem is not promptly identified or the patient is intolerant to conventional treatments.

We describe the use of a polymeric membrane dressing (PMD) in 3 patients with chronic (nonhealing) wounds and epibole who were unable to be treated with traditional interventions such as silver nitrate or sharp debridement. Patient 1 was a 51 year-old male with a right foot stasis ulcer with 60% fibrin/slough to the wound bed, patient 2 was a 58-year-old female with a stage 4 pressure injury of the left hip with undermining, and patient 3 was a 62-year-old female with a dehisced abdominal surgical wound.

The use of PMD, when applied using a specific technique, proved to be effective for resolving epibole in 3 patients with nonhealing wounds of differing etiologies. Based on these experiences, we postulate that topical therapy using a PMD may provide an effective alternative means for resolving epibole and promoting wound healing in patients unable to undergo surgical excision or chemical cauterization.