Alginate dressing

They may be used on full-thickness burns, surgical wounds, split-thickness graft donor sites, Mohs surgery defects, refractory decubiti, and chronic ulcers.

[3] The gelling properties of alginates are attributed to the presence of calcium ions that help form a slow degradeable cross-linked polymer gel.

In the form of fibres trapped in a wound, alginate is readily biodegradable[15] and can be rinsed away with saline irrigation.

Subsequent removal therefore, does not destroy granulation tissue, making dressing change virtually painless.

Since alginate dressings require moisture to function effectively, they cannot be used for dry wounds and those covered with hard necrotic tissue.