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.