Use of a Polyvinyl Alcohol Foam Impregnated with Methylene Blue and Gentian Violet to promote wound bed granulation and epithelialization in lower extremity wounds

Goal:  To present the clinical benefits of highly absorbent, broad spectrum bacteriostatic foam on lower extremity wounds in the aging homecare population with multiple co-morbidities.

The Challenge: Wound care for the home care population requires utilization of appropriate wound care within homecare reimbursement guidelines; homecare guidelines require intermittent skilled nursing visits.  Goals for wound care typically include expedited debridement, accelerated epithelialization, and prevention of infection.

A dressing comprised of highly absorbent polyvinyl foam impregnated with Methylene Blue and Gentian Violet* which provides broad spectrum bacteriostatic activity was utilized in a series of three elderly patients with trauma wounds. All wounds were at risk of progressing to infection and chronic wound status. The dressing was also initiated for a patient with a nonhealing transmetatarsal amputation surgical wound. The surgeon cancelled the scheduled surgery for further amputation after recommendation for this wound care.

Results:  The use of this innovative dressing was extremely successful in these patients and demonstrated efficacy. Dressings were changed in the homecare setting every 2 – 3 days. Outcomes include debridement of wound bed slough, established granulation tissue, reduced wound volume and area, and no progression to infection.  The patients with trauma wounds were 100% epithelialized within 6 days of initiation of treatment. The patient with the surgical wound healed in two months and has remained healed and avoided further surgery.

Conclusion: With appropriate early intervention and utilization of appropriate resources, the patients healed and did not develop a chronic/non-healing wound. The patient with the surgical wound healed and avoided further surgery.