Silicone dressings

Authors: Christian Kaare Paaskesen, Med. Stud., Hasan Gökcer Tekin, MD

Wound bed assessment

Wet wounds (on wound edges)
Granulating
Re-epithelializing

Moisture assessment

Dry and wet wounds

Contra-indications

Bleeding wounds
Silicone allergy

Advantages

Silicone dressings are particularly suitable for patient with fragile skin such as young children and elderly people. Adhesion is minimal, which prevents trauma to fragile peri-wound skin and wound bed. Silicone dressings are not intrinsically absorbent and allow exudate to pass through the dressing, making it ideal as a primary dressing in combination with a secondary dressing that has absorbent properties, to prevent secondary dressings from adhering to the wound bed. Silicone dressings are also thought to prevent development of keloids and hypertrophic scarring after surgery.

Disadvantages

If the dressing is allowed to dry out, it might adhere to the wound and peri-wound skin, causing damage when the dressing is removed.

Products

Molnlycke Mepilex Transfer Dressing
Systagenix ADAPTIC TOUCH Non Adhering Silicone Dressing
Cardinal Health Silicone Contact Layer Dressing