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| Dressing types | Examples | Advantages | Disadvantages | Indications | Contraindications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Semi-permeable | OpSite, Tegaderm | Allows inspection. Self-adhesive. Some moisture evaporation. Reduces pain. Barrier to external contamination | Exudate may pool. May be traumatic to remove. Surrounding skin may become macerated | Superficial wounds. As a secondary dressing | Highly exudative wounds |
Non adherent moist (Tulle Gras Dressing) | Jelonet, Unitulle Bactigras, Sofra-Tulle | Reduces adhesion to wound. Moist environment aids healing. Easy to use. Low cost | Do not absorb exudate or maintain moisture. Requires secondary dressing. May induce allergy or delay healing when impregnated | Burns. Wounds healing by secondary intention | Allergy |
Non adherent dry | Melolin, Melolite, Tricose | Low wound adherence. May absorb light exudate | Not suitable in high exudate. Can dry out and stick to wound. Requires secondary dressing | Wounds with moderate exudate | Dry wounds (may cause tissue dehydration) |
Fixation sheet | Fixomull, Hypafix, Mefix | Can be used directly on wound site. Conforms to body contours, good pain relief and controls oedema. Remains permeable allowing exudate to escape and be washed and dried off wound. Dressing changes can be left for 5–7 days | Dressing needs washing with soap and water, pat-dried twice daily. Requires application of oil prior to removal, ideally soaked in oil and wrapped in cling film overnight | Wounds with mild exudate, not needing frequent review | Infected wounds. Allergy to adhesives |
Calcium alginate | Kaltostat | Forms gel on wound and hence moist environment. Reduces pain. Can pack cavities. Absorbent in exudative injuries. Promotes haemostasis. Low allergenic | May require secondary dressing. Not recommended in anaerobic infections. Gel can be confused with slough or pus in wound. Must be removed to monitor wound. Unpleasant odour | Moderately or highly exudative wounds. Need for haemostasis | Dry wounds or hard eschar |
Foam dressings | PolyMem | Moist, highly absorbent, protective. Can be used to pack cavities | Set size of foam may be limited by wound size. Needs daily change | Wounds with mild to moderate exudate | Dry wounds. Wounds that need frequent review |
Hydrocolloid dressings | Duoderm, Comfeel | Retains moisture. Painless removal | Malodour. Potential allergic contact dermatitis | Burns (small). Abrasions | Dry wounds. Infection |
Hydrogels | Intrasite gel | Can provide or absorb moisture depending on surrounding tissue. Initially lower temperature providing cooling | May need a secondary adhesive dressing | Dry wounds | Suspected gram-negative infections |
Paper adhesive tapes | Micropore, | Non-allergenic. Provides wound support | Non-absorbent | Small wounds | Exudative or large wounds |
Antimicrobial | Acticoat, Aquacel Ag, Idosorb | Decrease bacterial load | Expensive | Infected wounds. Burns | Caution use of iodine dressings in patients with thyroid disease |
Table reproduced, with permission, from: The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne. Clinical practice guidelines: Wound dressings - acute traumatic wounds. Melbourne (Vic): 2023 [cited 2023 May 23].