Uses for Silicone Foam Dressing

Silicone foam dressings come in different sizes and different composition so patients can find the type that works best with their wounds. For example, silicone foam dressings have been specially designed to help surgical wounds, minor burns and even diabetic foot ulcers. The silicone keeps the dressing from sticking to the wound, which decreases pain and discomfort for the patient, especially when the wound must be changed. For these reasons and more, silicone foam dressings have advanced the science of healing and wound care.

Diabetic Wounds

• Diabetics are prone to foot ulcers, and diabetic foot problems are the most common cause of foot amputations in the industrialized world. Because diabetics suffer from nerve damage, they often can't feel wounds in their feet, so careful inspection of the feet is key to keeping them healthy. When a wound is discovered, however, silicone foam dressings can help to heal the wound quickly before the wound develops into something more serious. In fact, silicone foam dressing has proven so effective for diabetic foot wounds that several manufacturers sell pads designed especially for feet, such as in the shape of a patient's heel.

Surgery Wounds

• Surgical wounds must be covered after an operation to prevent infection and to protect the wound from further harm as it heals. Some types of wound dressings cause further damage by causing blisters or lesions on the skin surrounding the wound. Additionally, dressings used for surgical wounds should not cause pain, as the patient is already in pain from the surgery. Studies show that silicone foam dressings do not cause blisters or lesions, and patients do not experience pain associated with the dressing itself.

Pressure Ulcers

• Also known as bed sores, pressure ulcers plague patients who spend an extended amount of time in critical-care units or in bed for other reasons. In fact, a nursing study at the University of California at San Francisco found that over 23 percent of patients in critical-care units suffered from pressure ulcers. Clinical trials have shown that silicone foam dressings help to prevent pressure ulcers because they reduce friction and moisture at pressure points.

Moist Environments

• Because silicone foam dressings absorb moisture so well, they are effective for use in moist environments. Some absorbent dressings cause pain when removed from a moist wound, but silicone foam dressings can be removed without sticking to the wound and causing more pain. Therefore, silicone foam dressings are also effective on infected wounds and burn wounds that exude moisture that must be absorbed.