Accelerating Recovery: Advanced Wound Dressings for Pressure Ulcers - Winner Medical

Pressure ulcers, also known as bedsores, are tissue necrosis caused by long-term pressure on local tissues. They are commonly seen in patients who have difficulty moving and need to be bedridden, such as the elderly or paralyzed. Common symptoms include changes in skin color, painful pressure, or tissue suppuration. If pressure ulcer is not treated in a timely manner or properly, they may lead to sepsis, bone and joint infections, and cancer, seriously threatening people's lives.^[1]

Using advanced wound dressings to treat pressure ulcers is a feasible method. It creates a suitable antibacterial environment for wounds, helping patients reduce pain and accelerating tissue repair and regeneration. Next, we will explore the treatment of pressure ulcers at different stages and the advantages of advanced wound dressings. 

Why are Advanced Wound Dressings Recommended?

Choosing the right method is the first step in treating pressure ulcers. So, what is the difference between advanced wound dressings and traditional wound care solutions that patients face?

1. Traditional Wound Care Solutions

The most commonly used methods to treat pressure ulcers and wound care include gauze bandages, cotton, and lint dressings with saline or antibacterial solutions. It helps to heal ordinary wounds by bandaging and isolating the external environment. But for treating pressure ulcers, this is far from enough.

Gauze bandages or cotton dressings don't adhere to the skin or wounds very well. Thus, bacteria and liquid may enter the wound through the gaps when the bandage is loose, delaying healing.

The uneven surface of the gauze may cause irritation and itching to the skin, causing discomfort and pain in patients.

It is difficult to maintain a moist environment for wounds with traditional wound dressings, which is crucial for wound healing.^[2]

2. Advantages of Advanced Wound Dressing

Since the 1970s, much innovation and research has been done regarding advanced wound dressing.^[3] Different types of advanced wound care and protection solutions are available, such as:

Hydrocolloid Dressings: waterproof dressings that seal over the wound and hold it together, preventing germs from entering it and minimizing the swelling.

Foam Dressings: Absorb the wound exudate into the dressing to prevent it from re-entering the wound and infecting the surrounding skin.

Hydrogels: Assist in debridement and relieve pain, preventing the infection from going into deep tissues.

Alginate Dressing: Soft, highly absorbent antimicrobial wound dressing used to manage moderate to heavy wounds.

Pressure Ulcers at Different Stages and Treatment with Advanced Wound Dressings

Pressure ulcers are categorized into five stages depending on the level and depth of tissue damage. There are different grades of treatments and wound care techniques used in each category:

1. Grade 1 

Level of Damage: Intact skin surface but with erythema that can't fade. It is the mildest stage that only affects the upper layer of skin.

Symptoms: Redness, swelling, heat, pain with pressure and partial numbness

Grade 1 Treatment: Protect the wound surface with the hydrocolloid dressings and prevent it from spreading with the silicon foam dressings. Regular dressing changes and cleaning. 

2. Grade 2 

Level of Damage: The sore has penetrated through the top layer of skin (epidermis) into the lower level (dermis).

Symptoms: Purplish red skin, induration, blister, shallow sores (clear to yellowish pus), swollen red tissues around the sore.

Grade 2 Treatment: Protect the skin with skin protective barriers. Hydrocolloid and foam dressings are used for exudate control and pressure relief. Reducing friction and relieving pressure can also help alleviate symptoms.

3. Grade 3 

Level of Damage: Ulcer has penetrated through the top two layers into the fatty tissues with obvious epidermal damage

Symptoms: Redness, pus, odor, and exudate 

Grade 3 Treatment: Control infection by cleaning and removing damaged tissues and filling the wound area with antibacterial dressing, such as silver alginate dressing. Moreover, covering the wound with an external foam dressing is also needed to help absorb exudate. 

4. Grade 4 

Level of Damage: The sores have extended below into deep tissues, including muscles, tendons, and bones. Downward stealth can lead to sinus formation. 

Symptoms: Loss of full skin, extreme pain, drainage, tissue necrosis, and odor.

Grade 4 Treatment: Same as grade three treatment, but if there is no improvement in the long term, surgery is recommended.

5. Deep Tissue Injury

Level of Damage: It is a severe form of pressure ulcer and may not be easy to diagnose. The whole skin's surface is missing. Under the surface, the wound could be covered with carrion and eschar.

Treatment: This type of injury requires the most advanced wound dressing and surgical treatments. Surgical debridement will be followed with alginate wound dressings for filling. In addition, patients can use antibacterial super sponges for infection control and silicon foam dressings to control the exudate.

Winner Medical's Pressure Ulcer Treatment Solutions 

Winner Medical, founded in 1991, is a manufacturer of disposable medical products, dedicating to providing advanced wound dressing solutions for various diseases such as pressure ulcers and diabetes foot.

For pressure ulcer treatment, they provide a complete cycle of advanced wound dressing and care solutions from beginning to end. Designed and manufactured under professional researchers, Winner Medical has a versatile range of silicon foam dressings, foam dressings, hydrocolloid dressings, antibacterial gels, and silver alginate dressings that prevent, protect, and cure all types of pressure ulcers. 

These advanced wound care solutions have healing ingredients that provide optimal care with maximum comfort. It is necessary to follow the various treatment steps reasonably to maximize the therapeutic effect and reduce the pain caused by pressure ulcers. Furthermore, reducing external pressure on the ulcer can make the treatment process smoother.

Conclusion

Pressure ulcers could be a painful condition, but they can be cured with advanced wound dressing solutions and interventions. As a leading high-quality manufacturer of surgical consumables, advanced wound care solutions, and medical products, Winner Medical is continuously working towards providing the best healthcare solutions around the globe. Contact them to explore the effects of advanced wound dressings!

References

[1] Bedsores (pressure ulcers). Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bed-sores/symptoms-causes/syc-20355893 (Accessed: 29 December 2023)

[2] Clinical Impact Upon Wound Healing and Inflammation in Moist, Wet, and Dry Environments. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3842869/ (Accessed: 29 December 2023)

[3] A dressing history. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7951354/ (Accessed: 29 December 2023)