The application of a cellulose-based fibre dressing in surgical wounds

In this randomised prospective parallel-group controlled study, a modern cellulose-based fibre dressing was compared with a traditional ribbon gauze and proflavine dressing, used intra- and post-operatively. The study evaluates each treatment for the reduction in pain, improvement in the quality of treatment and patient satisfaction. Forty patients, with wounds left to heal by secondary intention, were studied. The results show several significant advantages for the cellulose-based fibre dressing. Pain levels on removal at the first dressing change were significantly reduced in the cellulose-based fibre dressing group (p = 0.002); the ribbon gauze patients routinely required analgesia before removal of the first dressing. At one week, a significantly greater number of patients in the cellulose-based fibre dressing group stated that they would be happy to have their first dressing change carried out at home without analgesia compared to the ribbon gauze group. This would enable patients to be discharged earlier and could represent a considerable financial saving to the hospital.