Novel Comparison of a Microbial-Resistant Compression and Securement Device Versus Traditional Gauze Wrap Showing Positive Impact on Wound Healing in Poor and Disadvantaged Patients

Lack of access to adequate wound care supplies can have a detrimental effect on the general patient population’s ability to heal a wound which many times progresses to infection, especially among poor and disadvantaged patients. In the US annually 8.2 million Medicare beneficiaries have a chronic non-healing wound at a cost of over $31 billion dollars annually. More than 7 million elderly people live below the poverty level. Many times lack of adequate bandaging supplies will lead to failure of typical topical wound care treatments as well and represent the a nidus for infection and a pathway of potential progression to life threatening infection.

For this work, traditional bandage systems will be compared to a microbial-resistant compression and securement device evaluating for cost differences as well as time of application. Traditional bandage systems will be compared to one which is designed to be reusable on the same person and supports soft tissue, muscles, and joints and aids in mobility and recovery. This modern approach will be shown to protect, support and assist in wound healing in a hypoallergenic fashion versus traditional cotton gauze wraps. We will also compare the length of time for dressing changes using the modern versus traditional methods.

Treating patients using a microbial-resistant compression and securement device can have a positive impact on wound healing and infection modulation in poor and disadvantaged patients and can restore patients to a healing state and decrease the potential progression to infection when compared to traditional bandage systems due in part to their ability to be reused. The amount of time to do a standard dressing change has also been shown to decrease markedly while using the modern bandage system. This system also uses no daily disposable material, which leads to less biohazardous waste.