Effect of oil gauze silver dressings on diabetic foot ulcers in the elderly

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of oil gauze silver dressing and silver ions dressing on diabetic ulcers in elderly outpatients. Methods: Twenty-two patients with Type-2 diabetic foot ulcers were included in the study conducted at Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital between April 2013 and April 2014. At the time of enrolment they were divided into the silver ions and oil gauze silver groups based on the order of admission. Dressings were changed twice weekly until the ulcer had healed. Clinical efficacy measures were healing outcomes and speed of healing. Adverse events were recorded. Results: The silver ions and oil gauze silver groups were comparable at baseline (P>0.05). Before treatment, the fasting blood glucose (FBG) and two hour postprandial blood glucose (2h PBG) levels were 6.88 +/- 0.50 mmol /L and 15.55 +/- 2.47 mmol/L in the oil gauze silver group, and 6.93 +/- 0.41 mmol/L and 15.23 +/- 2.58 mmol/L in the silver ions group, respectively. After treatment, the FBG and 2h PBG levels were 6.82 +/- 0.32 mmol/L and 8.67 +/- 0.86 mmol/L in the oil gauze silver group, and 6.85 +/- 0.27 mmol/L and 8.83 +/- 0.61 mmol/L in the silver ions group, respectively. The healing time of foot ulcers was 23.8 +/- 2.7 days in the silver ions group and 15.8 +/- 2.5 days in the oil gauze silver group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Oil gauze silver dressings for diabetic foot ulcers were associated with favorable clinical outcomes compared with silver ion dressings, especially with respect to ulcer healing speed.