A COMPARISON OF CALCIUM ALGINATE AND HYDROCOLLOID DRESSINGS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC VENOUS ULCERS

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of calcium alginate and hydrocolloid ressings in conjunction with compression sto ckings in the management of venous stasis leg ulcers. After confirmati on of venous ulcers, 40 patients were randomly allocated to one of the two treatment groups. Patients were evaluated weekly six times or unt il healed, with each assessment including the following: measurement o f ulcer size by tracing the ulcer and measuring with sonic digitizer; inspection of the ulcer and the skin around the ulcer; a patient asses sment of pain according to a four-point numeric scale; and a nurse ass essment of wound condition using a five-point numeric scale. No signif icant differences were found in terms of healing rates, number of ulce rs healed or changes in wound condition. However, 70% of wounds manage d with alginate improved, with six healed; while 45% of wounds managed with hydrocolloids improved, with two healed. In addition, all but tw o wounds managed with hydrocolloid showed some periulcer maceration. P atients treated with the alginate dressing had significantly lower pai n scores throughout the study. We conclude that, while both calcium al ginate and hydrocolloid dressings are efficacious in the management of venous ulcers, the calcium alginate dressing appears to manage heavil y exudating wounds that are at risk of maceration.