Moist-healing dressings

Apart from the selective promotion of specific cell behavior, the ideal wound dressing would also provide an environment which would be more conducive to heahng. In this respect, the healing wound performs better in a moist healing environment but not in a macerated heahng environment. As such, the dressing should have the physical ability to deal with the exudates produced by the wound but at the same time not allow the wound to dry out and the tissues to desiccate. 

The ideal wound dressing should minimize infection and pain, prevent excessive fluid loss, maintain a moist healing environment, promote epithelial restoration, and be biocompatible. However, dressings available in the market do not meet all the requirements necessary for an ideal dressing. In addition to the application of dressing, wound treatment includes irrigation of the affected area with an anesthetic solution followed by application of prophylactic antibiotics to prevent wound infection. 

Moist wound healing dressings (sometimes referred to as occlusive, semiocclusive, advanced, or modern dressings) can be classified into three types ... 

Shosha, M. H. A., Fahtny, H. M., Hassan, F. FI., Ashour, A. M., Khalil, A. A. (2009). Tetracycline hydrate gentamicine sulfate containing carboxymethylated cotton fabric suitable for moist wound healing dressings properties evaluation. Journal of Industrial Textiles, 38 4), 341-360. 

Since a bum dressing has to be multifunctional, i.e., antimicrobial, highly absorbent, moist, and non-adherent, and since Silvadene and silver nitrate are used on bum patients for their antimicrobial property, we studied silver nitrate retention at 100 F. Table VI1 shows silver nitrate retained on CM samples subsequent to drying at 100 ° F. Again, the data indicate possible suitability of CM samples for moist healing as well as for treating a bum patient whose immune system may be compromised. (No bum patients have actually used this dressing). 

In the same publication, a dressing that limits pain is most desirable which usually means an occlusive or water vapor barrier. However, a semipermeable dressing would be preferable that would control the amount of water vapor loss. A dressing that conforms to any contour, and a dressing that does not firmly attach to the tissue or interfere with the natural healing process are most desirable for superficial and full thickness skin wounds as well as deep tissue wounds. Further, a dressing that limits body water loss to less than 35 g of water vapor transmitted per m2 per hour is considered low enough to maintain a moist environment for most wounds. 

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