Oxidized Regenerated Cellulose (ORC)/Collagen/Silver-ORC Rope Dressing Use in Wounds with Undermining: A Small Case Series

Background: Wounds with areas of undermining can pose a challenge to healthcare providers. Applying dressings and other wound care methods to these undermined areas can be difficult. A new rope-like version of an existing advanced wound dressing comprised of oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC), collagen, and silver has been developed as a rope-like dressing to facilitate application to traumatic wound, dehisced surgical wounds, and ulcers including those with characteristics of undermining.

Purpose: The use of ORC/collagen/silver-ORC rope dressing in 4 cases is presented.

Methods: Three males and 1 female were treated. Average patient age was 59.8 ± 14.2 (standard deviation) years. Common comorbidities included diabetes (n=2), obesity (n=2), hypercholesteremia (n=2), hypertension (n=2) and peripheral vascular disease (n=1). Wound types treated were diabetic foot ulcer (n=1), surgical dehiscence (n=2), and trauma (n=1). Average wound age was 35.0 ± 26.1 (standard deviation) days. Previous wound treatments included over-the-counter ointment, wet-to-dry dressings, and negative pressure wound therapy. All patients received oral and/or intravenous antibiotics. ORC/collagen/silver-ORC rope dressings were selected to promote granulation tissue development in the areas of undermining. The ORC/collagen/silver-ORC rope dressings were applied in the explored areas of undermining. Dressing application occurred daily or per physician recommendation.

Results: Following use of ORC/collagen/silver-ORC rope dressings, the wound surface and undermined area were reduced, and healthy granulation tissue was observed in the wound bed. The ORC/collagen/silver-ORC rope dressing is biodegradable; thus, dressing application was simple with new rope dressing applied directly to the undermined areas without requiring the removal of previous rope dressing.

Conclusion: In these 4 patients, application of the ORC/collagen/silver-ORC dressing allowed for the reduction of wound undermined areas and development of healthy granulation tissue.