COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF DRESSING TECHNIQUES FOR DIABETIC FOOT ULCERS

Abstract

Background: Management of Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) includes a variety of approaches, including wound care and the use of dressings to promote healing. Aim: To compare the effectiveness of different dressing techniques for the management of DFUs. Methods: This study included patients with DFUs who were receiving treatment at a tertiary care hospital. Patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups: group A received traditional dressings, group B received advanced dressings, and group C received a combination of traditional and advanced dressings. Patients were followed up for a period of 12 weeks, and the primary outcome measure was the rate of complete wound healing. Secondary outcome measures included time to complete healing, pain scores, and incidence of infection. Results: A total of 90 patients were enrolled in the study, with 30 patients in each group. The rate of complete wound healing was significantly higher in group B (80%) compared to group A (53%) and group C (63%) (p=0.03). Time to complete healing was also significantly shorter in group B (8.7 weeks) compared to group A (10.6 weeks) and group C (9.9 weeks) (p=0.01). There was no significant difference in pain scores or incidence of infection between the three groups. Conclusion: Use of advanced dressings, such as hydrocolloids, foam dressings, and alginate dressings are more effective in promoting complete wound healing in management of DFUs.These findings suggest that use of advanced dressings should be considered in the management of DFUs, particularly in patients with slow-healing wounds or those at high risk of infection.