Combined use of an ibuprofen-releasing foam dressing and silver dressing on infected leg ulcers.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect and safety of an ibuprofen-releasing foam (Biatain-Ibu, Coloplast A/S) combined with an ionised silver-releasing wound contact layer (Physiotulle Ag, Coloplast A/S) on painful, infected venous leg ulcers.


METHODS
This open non-comparative study involved 24 patients with painful, exuding, locally infected, and stalled venous leg ulcers. Persistent pain and pain at dressing change were monitored using a 11-point numerical box scale (NBS). The composition of the wound bed, the dressing combination's ability to absorb exudate and minimise leakage, ibuprofen content in the exudate, reduction in wound area and adverse effects were also recorded.


RESULTS
Persistent wound pain decreased from a mean of 6.3 +/- 2.2 to 3.0 +/- 1.7 after 12 hours and remained low thereafter. Pain at dressing change also decreased and remained low. Forty-eight hours after the first dressing application, the mean concentration of ibuprofen in the wound exudate reached a constant level of 35 +/- 21 microg/ml. After 31 days, the relative wound area had reduced by 42%, with an associated decrease in fibrin and an increase in granulation tissue. The number of patients with wound malodour decreased from 37% to 4%. No serious adverse events were reported.


CONCLUSIONS
The combined use of the ibuprofen-releasing foam dressing and silver-releasing contact layer reduced wound pain and promoted healing without compromising safety.
Copenhagen Wound Healing Centre, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. bj05@bbh.regionh.dk
B
B
Jørgensen
F
F
Gottrup
T
T
Karlsmark
N
N
Bech-Thomsen
R G
RG
Sibbald
D000368:Aged; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D009779:Occlusive Dressings / Q000009:adverse effects; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018030:Silver Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000628:therapy*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D018030:Silver Compounds; D007052:Ibuprofen