Structured zinc oxide dressing for secondary intention wounds.

OBJECTIVE: Inexpensive methods for more rapid healing of secondary intention wounds are sought. This pilot study measured the wound healing rate for a new zinc oxide structured dressing technique.

METHOD: In this study, we included the three patients with the largest wounds with onset during a one month period. A 3-ply gauze was cut and placed in the centre of each wound, leaving a 3-5mm rim of the wound exposed to the zinc gauze. The central gauze was soaked with 0.9% saline solution and the entire wound area was covered with 3 layers of Unna zinc oxide dressing. The central gauze size was modified to fit as the wound healed and the size changed. The wound was photographed at each visit and wound areas were obtained using best-fit ellipses.

RESULTS: The average wound closure rate is reported in the three wounds as 21.73mm2 per day. The scalp wound healed at a rate of 21.45mm2 per day.; the spider bite wound healed at a rate of 28.92mm2 per day; and the thigh wound healed at a rate of 14.81mm2 per day.

CONCLUSION: Healing rates for the zinc gauze method exceed those previously reported for full-thickness wounds healing by secondary intention. Additional study of the new technique with more patients is needed before conclusions relevant to clinical practice can be made.