Which Dressing for Venous Leg Ulcers?

Multilayer compression bandaging has become standard for treating venous leg ulcers, but it is unclear whether certain specific dressings (applied over the ulcer) are better than others. Moreover, many kinds of dressings are available at a wide range of costs.

This systematic review and meta-analysis updates our knowledge about the relative value of these bandages. Investigators reviewed 42 randomized controlled trials (3001 participants) that evaluated a total of four kinds of dressings: hydrocolloids, foams, alginates, and hydrogel. Eight trials (792 people) compared hydrocolloid with simple nonadherent dressings and found no difference in the rate of ulcer healing. Four trials (311 patients) compared hydrocolloid dressings with foam dress…