Evaluation of a Silver Collagen based Amorphous gel in Expedience of Wound Debridement

Introduction:  This study examines the use of a silver collagen amorphous gel versus a collagenase based chemical, a polyacrylate, an active Leptosperum Honey alginate and a sheet collagen with silver in the expedience of wound debridement. 

Methods:  20 skilled care and home care patients were chosen.  All had 100% eschar based pressure wounds existent over 3 months on the heel which were unstable and were off-loaded prior to debridement. All had vascular sufficiency established prior to debridement and all had been on conservative dressings such as gauze or alginates.  They were followed for 4 weeks and measurements of necrotic tissue in 10% increments were made weekly.    E=  eschar  S= slough G= granulation.  Four patients were placed on each dressing

Results: at week four

Patients on collagenase based chemical:  #1  90% E  10%S  #2  100%E  #3  80%E 10%S 10%G   #4 90%E 10%S

Patients on Polyacrylate:  #1 80%E 10%S 10%G  #2 90%E 10%S  #3 70%E 10%S 20%G  #4  80%E  20%S

Patients on Leptosperum Honey alginate:  #1 90%E 10%S  #2  80%E 20%S  #3 80%E 10%S 10%G  #4  60%E 20%S 20%G

Patients oncollagen silcer sheet:  #1 80%E 10%S 10%G  #2 70%E 20%S 10%G  #3 90%E 10%S  #4 50%E 40%S 10%G

Patients on Silcer collagen gel:  #1 30%E 20%S 50%G  #2  40%E 40%S 20%G  #3 30%E 60%S 10%G  #4 10%E 40%S 50%G

Conclusion:  The silver collagen based gel debrided necrotic wounds more expediently than the other four chemical and autolytic debriders.

Special thanks to Progressive Home Health and the Vincentain Sister of Charity for participating in this study.  Also to Diamond pharmacy for providing the collagenase (Santyl Healthpoint) and Square One medical for providing the  polyacrylate (Tenderwet Medline), the Leptosperum Honey alginate (Medihoney DermaSciences), the silver collagen sheet (Prisma Systagenix) and the silver collagen gel (SilvaKollagen DermaRite Industries)