Resolving Epibole With Polymeric Membrane Dressings in Home Care.

BACKGROUND: The management of chronic (nonhealing) wounds with epibole is challenging and costly, especially when the problem is not promptly identified or the patient is intolerant to conventional treatments.

CASE DESCRIPTION: We describe the use of a polymeric membrane dressing (PMD) in 3 patients with chronic (nonhealing) wounds and epibole who were unable to be treated with traditional interventions such as silver nitrate or sharp debridement. Patient 1 was a 51 year-old male with a right foot stasis ulcer with 60% fibrin/slough to the wound bed, patient 2 was a 58-year-old female with a stage 4 pressure injury of the left hip with undermining, and patient 3 was a 62-year-old female with a dehisced abdominal surgical wound.

CONCLUSION: The use of PMD, when applied using a specific technique, proved to be effective for resolving epibole in 3 patients with nonhealing wounds of differing etiologies. Based on these experiences, we postulate that topical therapy using a PMD may provide an effective alternative means for resolving epibole and promoting wound healing in patients unable to undergo surgical excision or chemical cauterization.