Abstract: Background: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are commonly encountered during clinical practice and are often difficult to treat. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of octenidine dihydrochloride dressing and saline dressing in healing diabetic foot ulcers.
Methods: A total of 50 patients (25 patients in each group of octenidine dihydrochloride and saline dressing group) with complaints of chronic diabetic foot ulcer attending surgery outpatient department of Sri Ramakrishna Hospital were included in this prospective comparative study from September 2018 to November 2019. Dressings were done on daily basis for a period of 6 weeks, and the results were compared on 2nd, 4th and 6th week, using reduction in surface area of the wound as parameter of healing process. Other parameters such as age, gender, associated co morbidities were assessed.
Results: The mean surface area of wound in saline group was: baseline- 10.2 sq.cm, 2nd week- 9.8 sq.cm, 4th week- 8.6 sq.cm, 6th week- 7.5 sq.cm; While in octenidine dihydrochloride group was: baseline- 11.8 sq.cm, 2nd week- 9.6 sq.cm, 4th week- 6.8 sq.cm, 6th week- 5.2 sq.cm. After 6 weeks, the mean reduction in surface area of wound is more in the octenidine dihydrochloride dressing group compared with the slaine dressing group and the results are statistically significant at a p<0.05.
Conclusions: octenidine dihydrochloride dressing is more effective than saline dressing in achieving complete healing, reducing wound surface area, and decreasing morbidity in patients with DFU.
