A Novel Topical Wound Therapy Delivery System

Wound care dressings have evolved over time, from bandaging to the development of occlusive dressings to negative pressure wound therapy. A novel therapeutic delivery system dressing has been cleared by the United States Food and Drug Administration. This semi occlusive wound dressing has been developed to provide local, continuous delivery of aqueous topical agents, such as therapeutics (anesthetics, antiseptics, antibiotics, steroids, topical beta-blockers, immune modulatory agents, growth factors, and fibrinolytic agents, among others), at a rate of about ¾ mL per day, thus maintaining a hydrated environment and providing topical treatment. This type of system may be beneficial in situations where systemic therapies cannot be used, wounds are small and few, wounds may need frequent application of medication or moisture, or low and steady delivery of medications is needed.

The authors assessed a delivery system dressing with different types of liquid medications for the management of hard-to-heal, chronic lower extremity wounds.

Patients aged ≥ 18 and ≤ 90 years with stalled chronic wounds > 30 days' duration were selected for the use of a topical delivery system, which consists of a semi occlusive wound dressing and fluid delivery unit that can provide local application of small therapeutic quantities of medication directly to the wound.

Several successful cases with the use of this device are presented in which pain relief, enhancement of epithelial migration, inflammation reduction, bacterial control, and wound size reduction were achieved.

This delivery system dressing is an effective and safe treatment option for wounds. Advantages include reduced potential of systemic side effects, flexibility in what can be delivered, constant rate of medication delivery, and convenience.