Rationale: This patient was so debilitated that her heel ulcer was not expected to close. Dressings needed to prevent any infection from becoming systemic and to contain the wound exudate. Bordered polymeric membrane dressings fit well on heels and have a semipermeable membrane to protect wounds from contamination. They contain glycerol, a surfactant and a super-absorbent starch. Silver is an optional component. The glycerol is released into the wound bed and can be utilized by the body as a component for new cells or as an energy source directly at the wound site. The surfactant continuously cleanses the wound bed, which often eliminates painful, wound cooling and time-consuming wound cleansing during dressing changes. The super-absorbent starch locks exudate into the dressing, where microbes are killed by the silver.

Methodology: Initially silver polymeric membrane dressings were used, changed when 75% saturated (every 5 days). The wound bed contained 100% granulation tissue after ten days, so standard polymeric membrane dressings were employed. No wound bed cleansing was done at dressing changes. Polymeric membrane dressings were continued to complete wound closure.

Results: The wound closed without further antibiotics in only ten weeks and remained closed. Dressing changes were very quick and used very few supplies because no manual wound bed cleansing was needed.

Conclusion: Consistent use of polymeric membrane dressings resulted in this wound closing. Glycerol from the dressings may have provided the nutrients needed to close the wound.

*Shapes by PolyMem^® Silver^™ Dressings