Contact layer dressings come in many sizes and configurations from many different manufacturers, making it hard to choose between them. They do, however, share many similar characteristics. The following can be used as a guide for the use of contact layer dressings.
Product Overview
Contact layer dressings consist of a single layer. They may be woven or unwoven, and their main purpose is to protect the wound bed, specifically the fragile tissues of the wound bed. They may be perforated or permeable, and allow exudate (drainage) to pass through to a secondary dressing. Contact layer dressings are nonadherent and are usually very thin.
Indications
- Should be used on clean wounds that do not contain necrotic tissue
- May be used as the only (primary) dressing for partial and full-thickness wounds
- Can be used on donor sites, split thickness skin grafts
Contraindications
- Should not be used on third-degree burns
- Not recommended for shallow or small wounds
- Should not be used for tunneling wounds
- Should not be used with wounds draining very thick exudate (will not pass through to the secondary dressing)
Advantages
- Protects new, fragile tissue from trauma
- Allows passage of exudate away from the wound bed, can be used on wounds with light, moderate, and heavy exudate
- May be left on the wound for up to a week, so that only the secondary dressing is changed
- Can be used with topical medications
- Can be used with gauze dressings
- Conform to the wound shape
Disadvantages
Require a secondary dressing that may need frequent changing due to exudate, which may not be cost effective or efficient in terms of materials and labour (i.e. gauze dressings)
Are you like many other health care professionals who have difficulty deciding which type of dressing to apply to their client’s wound? To learn more about wound care management, or to become certified as a wound care specialist, visit www.woundeducators.com. We’ll make deciding on a wound care plan of treatment for your client an easy choice!
Sources:
Cynthia A. (2005). So, what do I put on this wound? Wound dressing puzzle: Part 1, Dermatology Nursing, 17(2), pg. 143-144
