Foam Dressings for Wound Healing

Purpose of Review: Chronic, non-healing wounds affect millions of people globally and demand significant healthcare spending. One of the most important aspects of wound care is the appropriate selection and placement of a wound dressing. One of the key roles of a wound dressing is the optimization of a moist wound environment for healing. A moist wound environment facilitates wound healing by encouraging interaction of growth factors with their targets, epithelialization, angiogenesis, and autolytic debridement of dead tissue. However, while some chronic wounds are highly exudative and require absorptive dressings in order to minimize maceration, other wounds are drier and require more occlusive dressings with the capability of preserving moisture. Given the compelling global demand for wound care, foam dressings have been continuously innovated over the past several decades. Some foam dressings are manufactured to be highly adherent, while others are manufactured with minimal adherence in order to preserve peri-wound skin during dressing changes. Foam dressings are also manufactured within a spectrum of absorptivity and pliability. As such, foam dressings are applicable in a variety of clinical settings. Pressure injuries/ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, and venous ulcers are a few examples of chronic wounds that have demonstrated clinical improvement with the utilization of foam dressings. Recent Findings: Given the compelling global demand for wound care, foam dressings have been continuously innovated over the past several decades. Some foam dressings are manufactured to be highly adherent, while others are manufactured with minimal adherence in order to preserve peri-wound skin during dressing changes. Foam dressings are also manufactured within a spectrum of absorptivity and pliability. As such, foam dressings are applicable in a variety of clinical settings. Pressure injuries/ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, and venous ulcers are a few examples of chronic wounds that have demonstrated clinical improvement with the utilization of foam dressings. Summary: Foam dressings are frequently utilized in wound care due to their ease of use, often (relatively) low cost, pliability, fluid absorptivity, and ability to deliver anti-microbial substances, such as silver, to the wound bed. Overall, foam dressings are one of the most useful tools in wound care.