Effect of moist dressing, collagen sheet dressing and epidermal growth factor in healing of chronic wounds

Abstract

Background: Surgical literature is full of innumerable solutions to the problems of wound healing and it speaks of itself that the problem is not so simple and straight forward to tackle with. The aim of the present study was to compare three modalities moist saline dressing, collagen sheet dressing and epidermal growth factor in early epithelization and healing of chronic wounds. to study the effect of various dressing modalities on epithelization of chronic wound in terms of time required for healing and the quality of scar it forms, the functional results both early and late, post-healing morbidity and complications and the practicality and the cost involved in using these modalities.Methods: Prospective randomized controlled study. Study including chronic wound cases admit to AVBRH Sawangi over period of 3 years.Results: Reduction in size of wound by 70-100% was found highest in Epigrof group. In Epigrof treated group 88% of wounds healed within 3 weeks while 80% in collagen group and 56% in moist dressing group it. Collagen dressing is the most cost effective of the three whereas Epigrof was most costly due to the initial cost of purchase. The scar quality was satisfactory in 19 of Epigrof group and 17 of the collagen sheet group and 15 of the moist dressing group.Conclusions: Epidermal growth factor is superior in epithelization, collagen is the next best local applicant, but collagen sheet is more cost effective than Epigrof and non-adherent dressings.