A Comparative Study Of Amorphous Hydrogel Dressings With Silver Nano Particles Versus Conventional Dressing For Treating Diabetic Foot Ulcers – A Randomised Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background and objectives The silver-containing preparations have bactericidal properties and it has been tried in the treatment of chronic ulcers. The present study was aimed to find the effect of amorphous hydrogel dressings with silver nano particles versus conventional dressing on wound culture and slough in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Methodology This one year randomized controlled trial was done in the Department of Surgery, KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Belgaum. A total of 60 patients with chronic diabetic foot ulcers from January 2014 to December 2014were enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups of 30 each as group A (dressing and topical management using hydrogel with silver nano particles) and group B (dressing and topical management with povidone iodine). Results Most of the patients in group A (86.67%) and B (66.67%) were males (p=0.067). The mean age in group A was 60.23±9.27 years compared to 55.13±12.06 years in group B (p=0.072). The diabetic history, wound characteristics and culture in group A and B were comparable (p>0.050). On day five, maximum number of patients had negative wound culture in group A (43.33% vs 16.67%) compared to group B (p=0.024). The mean slough was comparable at all the intervals (p>0.050) in group A and B. Among the patients with group A, the mean reduction of slough on day five (6.93±6.14% vs. 4.37±2.96%; p=0.045), day ten (15.22±7.40% vs. 9.10±7.00%; p=0.002) and day fifteen (21.57±8.71% vs. 15.90±8.11%; p=0.012) was significantly high compared to group B. Conclusion and interpretation From the findings of this study it may be concluded that, diabetic foot ulcers treated with amorphous hydrogel dressings with silver nano particles are efficacious in terms of reduction in slough compared to conventional dressing and reduce the micro-organisms during first five days.