It’s difficult to treat an old, infected wound. Today, the best solution is a medical grade honey dressing and then a good absorbent.
MEDIHONEY® recommends using XTRASORB®, the global leading brand in the list of wound care dressing products.
First apply MEDIHONEY® gel or paste directly on the wound and then use XTRASORB®, which is a super-absorbent, coming in three different types, according to the wound.
♦ XTRASORB® HCS: For dry to moderately exuding wounds – with and without adhesive border
♦ ♦ XTRASORB® Foam: For moderately to heavily exuding wounds – with and without adhesive border
♦ ♦ ♦ XTRASORB® Classic: For heavily and extra heavily exuding wounds
What’s so special about this absorbent?
• All three absorbents use a patented Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP) platform technology.
• They absorb and retain more moisture than other market-leading competitive dressings. Why?
Because they are using super-absorbent polymer technologies, meaning that there are polymers in the XTRASORB® that bind fluid and convert it to a gel, retaining it in a controlled area.
The other absorbent dressings (including foams, ABD pads, and other cellulose-based dressings) rely on spaces within the dressings to fill with fluid. This fluid can be released immediately back on the wound, at any exterior pressure. This never happens with XTRASORB®.
• They have fluid-locking capability. Locking fluid within dressings can help to prevent maceration and keep the harmful components of wound fluid away from the wound and surrounding tissue.
Medical grade honey, made with manuka honey, used as wound dresssings, is able to reduce pain and inflammation, minimize scarring, fight infection, reduce odor, and stimulate the new growth of skin. Honey absorbs the moisture on the skin through the process of osmosis, which helps to kill bacteria as it dries the wound. It stimulates the growth of new cell tissues and speeds up the healing process, something that traditional antibiotics are incapable of.
PROs
• While they are more expensive than conventional absorbents, XTRASORB® does not need to be changed often, so we will use fewer, minimizing disruption to the wound bed and eliminating the discomfort associated with frequent changes.
• Reduced maceration, because the fluid is absorbed, turned to gel and retained within the dressing, the wound will not enter in contact with the harmful components within the wound fluid.
• Maintains an optimal moist wound interface while delivering proper moisture management and balance.
CONs
• Rather expensive.
For lightly exuding wounds use XTRASORB® HCS
(HCS comes from Hydrogel Colloidal Sheet)
How does it work?
It takes a low-water-content hydrogel and combines it with sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (sodium CMC – a common component in hydrocolloids and the base component in hydro fibers). This dressing can be used to help hydrate non-exuding wounds, while also being able to absorb fluid from lightly to moderately exuding wounds.
PROs
• Provides the hydration of a hydrogel while absorbing up to four times more liquid than competitive hydrocolloid dressings. There is no gelatin, so no associated odor (like with other covers)
• Extremely conformable, even on difficult-to-dress areas
• The cover is clear so we can always observe the wound and know its status
• Comes in two formats: adhesive and non-adhesive
CONs
– Unfortunately, Amazon.com does not ship them internationally.
– They only come in cases of 40 units, and you may not need so many. Being so many, also makes them expensive.
Derma Sciences 31644 Medihoney Dressing Hydrogel Colloidal Sheet, Non-Adhesive, 4.3″ Width x 4.3″ Length (Pack of 10), available at Amazon. Picture source Amazon
For moderately to heavily exuding wounds, use XTRASORB® Foam
Regular polyurethane foams act like sponges, allowing fluid to push back into the wound under compression. XTRASORB® has a SAP (super absorbent polymer) sheet on the outer-facing portion of the dressing. This sheet takes the fluid that enters the foam and wicks it to the back of the dressing, converting it to a gel. This locks fluid away from the wound bed, retaining it even under compression, thus decreasing the risk of maceration and the time that wound fluid and its components (including MMPs) are in contact with the wound.
Compared to other market-leading foam dressings, it can absorb more than twice the fluid of the wound. As a result, there will also be fewer dressing changes.
They come is both forms: adhesive and non-adhesive, 10 pieces per box, 4 boxes per case.
Dermasciences XTRASORB Super Absorbent Foam Adhesive Dressing 3.2″ x 3.2″ box of 10 sterile dressings, available at Amazon
For heavily and extra-heavily exuding wounds, use XTRASORB® Classic
This is the ideal dressing for leg ulcers where compression bandages can be left in place for up to seven days.
It is also perfect for other wounds with heavy wound fluid, reducing the frequency of changes a lot. The sachet-style dressing has a non-adherent contact layer to allow for atraumatic removal during dressing changes, and a strike-through protection layer on the outer facing side.
Inside this sachet there is a super-absorbent polymer fiber core. Once fluid enters the dressing it is converted to gel, and very little can be released, even under compression.
Here are the main benefits of using XTRASORB® Classic, as described by the producer itself:
XTRASORB Super Absorbent Classic Dressing, Xtrasorb Nonadh Drs 6X9, (1 BOX, 10 EACH)
, available at Amazon
Read more about how to treat an old chronic wound. Skin & Wound Care can be easily considered “the bible” of wound management, a book at its sevents edition, by
For references and further details, please visit the official page of Derma Science Inc.
