The role of Mepitel silicone net dressings in the management of fingertip injuries in children

Forty-five children with isolated fingertip injuries were randomized for tr eatment with either Mepitel silicone net dressings or paraffin gauze dressi ngs. Over a 4 week period, the objective adherence of the dressing, and the perceived level of stress caused to the child by the dressing change were scored by linear analogue scales, The wounds were also assessed for the pro gress of healing and presence of infection, Twenty children received Mepite l dressings and 25 had paraffin gauze dressings, There was no difference in duration of healing or complication rates between the two groups. Statisti cally lower scores were seen for the Mepitel group for the first 3 weeks in both adherence and stress scores. These results suggest that silicone net dressings may be a less adherent and less painful method of dressing finger tip injuries in children.