title: The management of lower-extremity ulcers with zinc-saline wet dressings versus normal saline wet dressings.
abstract: Zinc-saline wet dressings were compared to normal-saline wet dressings for the management of lower extremity ulcers in a pilot study of 28 elderly patients. Although both study groups were comparable at baseline, the data suggest that the use of zinc-saline wet dressings creates a wound environment that is associated with trends toward faster healing and enhanced rates of epithelialization, as well as significantly more efficient wound management than the normal-saline controls. These data are presented in light of the requirement for maintaining a moist, acidic environment within a wound in order to permit the best possible healing and remodeling.
authors.affiliation: Mercy Hospital, Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rittenhouse
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D009779:Occlusive Dressings; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*