What type of wound dressings should be used after debridement?
Although foot ulceration is one of the most common complications in diabetes mellitus, much controversy exists over the proper dressing care of the diabetic ulcer. As a result, standards of care have yet to be defined. There are many questions regarding the best dressing and how often it should be changed. Since cells cannot survive in a dry environment, preservation of a moist setting in a wound is imperative for healing. Following debridement, tissues should be kept moist to prevent the formation of devitalized tissue and subsequent deepening of the wound. Benefits of moisture include: • Facilitating more rapid migration of epidermal cells across the wound bed • Promoting angiogenesis and connective tissue synthesis In the past decade, the technology of dressing has developed significantly. Several new products, which reflect greater knowledge of tissue repair physiology, have been produced and successfully used for the management of various types of chronic ulcers. Some newer agents
