Characterization and efficiency of medicated dressings for chronic wounds

Abstract

Medicated dressings for diabetic foot, which belongs to the group of chronic wounds, were investigated. Since time immemorial chronic wounds have been a major problem, both in determining the causes and in medical treatment. Medicated dressings made using the most modem textile processes with the addition of antimicrobial agents and the like, depending on their purpose, are very efficient for their treatment. For the treatment of diabetic foot a large number of medicated dressings of various structural characteristics and mechanisms of action are used. The paper describes four types of dressings that have helped in the treatment of one of the most severe forms of diabetic foot, which is supported by figures from the initial to the final stages of the disease. Basic structural features, raw material composition and dissolving power of the investigated medicated dressings were determined. Since the medicated dressings are made of high-performance fibers, Fourier transform spectroscopy in the infrared region with an addition for surface analysis (FTIR-ATR) was used. The effectiveness of the samples was tested on a concrete example, i.e. on a patient with diabetic foot in cooperation with chief physician Dubravko Huljev, PhD MD, Clinical Hospital “Sveti Duh” and Polyclinic for Baromedicine OXY - Department in Zagreb, Clinical Hospital Dubrava which handed over photographs taken during the treatment for the needs of this study.