Cost-Effectiveness Analysis in Comparing Alginate Silver Dressing with Silver Zinc Sulfadiazine Cream in the Treatment of Pressure Ulcers

Background The treatment of pressure ulcers is complicated, given the various wound dressing products available. The cost of different treatments varies and the cost-effectiveness of each product has not been thoroughly evaluated. We compare two wound dressing protocols-alginate silver dressing (AlSD) and silver zinc sulfadiazine cream (AgZnSD) with regard to wound healing and cost-effectiveness.

Methods Patients with grade III or IV sacral or trochanteric pressure ulcers were eligible for this prospective, randomized controlled trial. The patients were randomized to receive one of the two dressings for an eight-week period. The criteria of efficacy were based on the Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (PUSH) scoring tool. The cost of treatment was also assessed.

Results Twenty patients (12 women and 8 men) were randomly assigned to receive either AlSD (n=10) or AgZnSD cream (n=10). The demographic data and wound characteristics were comparable in the two groups. The two groups showed no significant difference in the reduction of PUSH score, wound size, or volume of exudate. The tissue type score was significantly lower in the AlSD group (3.15±0.68-1.85±0.68 vs. 2.73±0.79-2.2±0.41; P=0.015). The cost of treatment was significantly lower in the AlSD group (377.17 vs. 467.74 USD, respectively; P<0.0001).

Conclusions Alginate silver dressing could be effectively used in the treatment of grade III and IV pressure ulcers. It can improve wound tissue characteristics and is cost-effective.

Keywords

Pressure ulcer - Calcium alginate - Cost effectiveness

This article was presented as a poster at the European Wound Management Association (EWMA) on May 25-27, 2011 in Brussels, Belgium.

Publication History

Received: 30 January 2013

Accepted: 25 July 2013

Article published online:
01 May 2022

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