Dressings

In selecting the right dressings that will minimise trauma to the wound and the surrounding skin and pain to the patient, the objective should be to find products that:

• Do not adhere to the wound bed or traumatise fragile tissues around wound margins during removal
• Manage exudates appropriately to optimise wear time
• Protect the peri-wound skin from the corrosive effects of chronic wound exudates
• Avoid allergic reactions (particularly important in leg ulcer patients)

It is also necessary to take into account the type of wound, the amount of exudate and the position of the wound.

The European Wound Management Association suggests that "traditional" dressings such as gauze or paraffin tulle should be avoided.¹

1. EWMA, Pain at wound dressing changes. Position document. Medical Education Partnership, London.