Superabsorbent charcoal dressing versus silver foam dressing in wound area reduction: a randomised controlled trial

Aim: This study aimed to compare the effect of a novel sterile polyacrylate wound pad with activated carbon cloth treatment with a standard non-adhesive hydrocellular foam dressing with silver in reducing wound area. Method: A multicentre randomised controlled open-label wound-dressing trial was conducted in two wound care outpatient clinics in western Switzerland from November 2018 to March 2020. Results: A total of 77 successive patients were randomised to receive either a sterile polyacrylate wound pad with activated carbon cloth treatment (n=38) or the standard non-adhesive hydrocellular foam dressing with silver (n=39). Reduction in wound area was the primary outcome, whereas the application period of the dressing, odour, maceration and pain were the secondary outcomes. Wound area was measured at baseline and during each wound dressing change until the dressings were no longer indicated. Wound area reduced faster in the intervention group than in the control group (0.45cm(2) per day vs. 0.2cm(2) per day), although the application period was longer in the intervention group compared with the control group (9.5 days vs. 8.1 days). Maceration reduction was more pronounced in the intervention group (-2.07cm(2) ) than in the control group (-0.71cm(2)). Odour, pain and infection were similar in both groups. Conclusion: Sterile polyacrylate wound pad dressings with activated carbon cloth reduced the wound area, as well as the maceration area, faster than the non-adhesive hydrocellular foam dressing with silver.