In a significant review of wound care literature from the Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam, firm conclusions were drawn on the best treatment methods for pressure ulcers, burns and surgical wounds.
Researchers analyzed the findings of 44 Cochrane Systematic Reviews published by the authoritative Cochrane Wounds and Peripheral Vascular Disease Groups. [1]
The British Journal of Surgery published these findings online. Reviews analyzed the treatment of acute wounds and chronic wounds, including venous, pressure, diabetic and arterial ulcers.
The review found that cleansing pin site wounds to prevent infection by using saline, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide or antibacterial soap is no more effective than no cleansing at all.
Findings also include the use of topical honey in an effort to reduce wound healing time as opposed to film or gauze-based dressings for burns. In addition, researchers discovered that using hyperbaric oxygen therapy decreased the rate of major amputations resulting from diabetic ulcers.
Dirk Ubbink, a co-author of the review, said that wound care literature could often reveal conflicting results. Consequently, healthcare professionals face challenges when making evidence-based treatment decisions.
“Ideally wound treatment decisions should be based on the best available evidence, integrated with patients’ concerns and priorities and fine-tuned by the local resources and skills,” he explained.
“In reality, however, treatment decisions are generally based on the personal opinions, experiences and preferences of healthcare professionals, which can vary widely.”
Ubbink also emphasized that meta-review aims to aid clinicians in making evidence-based decisions “by analyzing studies of both local and systemic open wound care.”
[1] “New study brings clarity to wound care.” Nursing Times. Web. 20 July 2012.
