Sequential treatment with calcium alginate dressings and hydrocolloid dressings accelerates pressure ulcer healing in older subjects: a multicenter randomized trial of sequential versus nonsequential treatment with hydrocolloid dressings alone.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy of a sequential strategy combining calcium alginate and hydrocolloid dressings treatment of grade III or IV pressure ulcers (PUs) and the efficacy of nonsequential strategy with hydrocolloids alone.


METHODS
An open, randomized, multicenter parallel-group trial.


METHODS
Twenty geriatrics hospital wards.


METHODS
One hundred ten older patients with grade III or IV PUs.


METHODS
The control strategy consisted of applying hydrocolloid dressings (DuodermE) for 8 weeks; the sequential strategy consisted of applying combined calcium alginate dressings (UrgoSorb) for the first 4 weeks and hydrocolloid dressings (Algoplaque) for the next 4 weeks.


METHODS
PU surface areas were measured weekly by ulcer tracing. The endpoints were the mean absolute surface area reduction (SAR) during the 8-week study period and the number of patients achieving a 40 or more SAR (SAR40).


RESULTS
Fifty-seven and 53 patients were randomly allocated to sequential and control strategies respectively. Baseline patient characteristics and PU ulcer features at inclusion were similar in the two groups. Mean +/- standard deviation SAR was significantly larger in the sequential treatment group (5.4 +/- 5.7 cm2 and 7.6 +/- 7.1 cm2 at 4 and 8 weeks) than in the control group (1.6 +/- 4.9 cm2 and 3.1 +/- 7.2 cm2, P< .001). In the sequential treatment group, 68.4 of the patients reached SAR40 at 4 weeks and 75.4 at 8 weeks, proportions significantly larger than in the control group (22.6 and 58.5, respectively, P< .0001). Dressing tolerance was good in both strategies.


CONCLUSIONS
In grade III or IV PUs, treatment using first calcium alginate dressings and then hydrocolloid dressings promotes faster healing than treatment with hydrocolloid dressings alone.
Belmin
Joël
J
Department of Geriatric Internal Medicine, Hôpital René Muret and Université Paris Nord, Sevran, France. joel.belmin@rmb.ap-hop-paris.fr
Meaume
Sylvie
S
Rabus
Marie-Thérèse
MT
Bohbot
Serge
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000464:Alginates; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D047070:Bandages, Hydrocolloid; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003102:Colloids; D005260:Female; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009779:Occlusive Dressings; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014945:Wound Healing
D000464:Alginates; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003102:Colloids; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020723:Glucuronic Acid