A Novel Woven Secondary Bandage** for Foot and Ankle Wounds to Ease and Speed Up Dressings for Caregiver Efficiency, Reduce Frequency of Dressing Changes and to Secure the Integrity of the Primary to Support Wound Healing and Compliance

Introduction: The standard of care for foot and ankle wounds often involves bandage rolls and gauze wraps, to cover the primary dressing. Secondary dressing application ease, time to apply, fixation efficiency and resilience, plus training and experience of the healthcare professional may impact outcomes significantly.

Method: A multicenter user experience assessment of 50 patients with a variety of clinical indications was conducted by caregivers in various clinical settings like hospital, office, nursing homes to evaluate a novel secondary dressing** for a) Comparison against standard of care b) Ease of use, time & application efficiency c) Protection and fixation of the primary dressing d) Reduced frequency of dressing changes.

Results: Product** applicable to acute and chronic foot & ankle wounds: DFU, burns, arterial ulcers, surgical wounds, lymphedema, pressure ulcers, injuries, dermatoses. Can be used with dermatitis after applying cream/lotion. Coverage area from toe to ankleSecures primary dressings, is resilient to wear and tearProvides light compressionMaterial is soft and comfortable to sensitive skin. Offers mild absorption of breakthrough drainage, can be doubled up for morePotential for use in NPWT applications, multilayer compression wraps, total contact casts. No adverse reactions reported. Applied in different places of service: Hospitals, office, nursing & private homes.·

Physician can remove post-op dressing dressings, look at wound, and reapply the reusable fastener during rounds· Easy and quick to apply in office after minor procedures like biopsy, abscess, foreign body removal· Easier to apply at home for patients and caregivers who have disability. No scissors or tape needed.· In nursing homes it can be applied easily and quickly by one person to bedridden or combative patients, thus reducing staff requirements· Surgeons can apply in the O.R. as last layer

Conclusion: From this case series of fifty patients, the novel woven secondary dressing** that was used for foot and ankle wounds was beneficial for the efficiency of wound clinicians due to the ease and speed of application, the reduction of dressing changes and to secure the integrity of the primary to support wound healing and compliance in a variety of clinical settings.