Rationale: Polymeric membrane dressings contain ingredients which draw the body’s natural healing substances into the wound bed and concentrate them to promote rapid healing. The dressings’ ingredients also facilitate autolytic debridement by loosening bonds between slough and the wound bed. Liquefied slough is absorbed by the dressing, often eliminating the need for cleansing during dressing changes.

Methodology: After an initial saline flush, the deep area of the wound was lightly filled with polymeric membrane wound filler. The periwound was coated with skin protectant and a standard polymeric membrane dressing was held in place over the area with stretch gauze. Dressings were changed daily for a week, then 3x/week until wound closure. At one week the wound was flushed with saline and silver polymeric wound filler was utilized. Cleansing was not needed again.

Results: After only one week the wound edges flattened out and the wound bed was only 30% fibrin with 70% already completely granulating. The fibrin continued to decrease without chemical or sharp debridement using the polymeric membrane dressings. The wound steadily decreased in size and closed in only six weeks.

Conclusion: Switching to polymeric membrane dressings turned a discouraging stalled wound around in only one week with minimal clinician intervention, ending the cost and inconvenience of daily RN visits, enzymatic debriding agents, and weekly visits to the podiatrist for sharp debridement.

*PolyMem Wic^®, PolyMem, PolyMem Wic^® Silver^TM