ALGINATES - A NEW DRESSING ALTERNATIVE

BACKGROUND: Currently, a wide variety of bio-occlusive dressing materials are available. In general these dressing materials provide a moist wound healing environment that has been shown to promote healing in both human and animal studies. To effectively use these dressings the clinician must have a full understanding of the properties of the materials as well as the pathophysiology of the particular wound. Most recently, a "new" biosynthetic dressing material, the alginates, has become available. OBJECTIVE: To highlight proper use of alginate dressings for the management of acute and chronic wounds. METHODS: Case study and literature review. RESULTS: Alginates were shown to be effective in a wide variety of acute and chronic wounds. CONCLUSION: Alginates possess several unique properties that should prove useful to the dermatologic surgeon as well as the dermatologist. Proper patient selection and use of this "new" dressing material, as well as a review of the literature is presented.