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dressings, has been shown to have a positive effect Of 140 patients, 56 participants (22 in the LAD group and 34
on wound healing. The aim of the present study is to in the conventional dressing group) were lost to follow‑up
[8]
determine the effect of LAD on wound surface pH. or withdrawn from the study. Of 42 patients in the LAD
group, 22 (52%) were women, and 20 (48%) were men. In
METHODS the conventional dressing group, of 42 patients, 18 (42.8%)
were women, and 24 (57.1%) were men [Figure 1].
Ethical issues In the LAD group, the mean age was 38.3 ± 10.56 years
This randomized control trial was carried out in the Burns (range: 12‑60 years), and the mean wound size at the
and Plastic Surgery Department of Kasturba Medical time of admission was 28 cm (range: 19‑40 cm ). In
2
2
College and Hospital, Manipal, Keanataka, India. The study the conventional dressing group, the mean age was
protocol was reviewed and approved by the Institutional 35.3 ± 14.0 years (range: 17‑65 years), and the mean
Ethics Committee. The study was conducted as per wound size at the time of admission was 26 cm
2
approved protocol after obtaining informed consent from (range: 18‑39 cm ) [Table 1].
2
all patients.
Patients in the LAD group were treated with intermittent
Study design and randomization negative pressure. In the conventional closed dressing
[8]
Two hundred and fifteen patients with chronic wounds group, patients were dressed daily with 5% povidone‑iodine
of more than 4 weeks duration were screened in the solution soaked gauze. The wounds of both groups were
study. Patients were evaluated for inclusion criteria washed daily.
(nonhealing chronic wounds) and exclusion criteria
(collagen disorders, diabetes, leprosy, cirrhosis, HIV and Assessment of wound surface pH
pregnancy), and 140 patients were enrolled in the study. The surface pH was measured by a pH paper strip
Simple randomization was performed (www.random.org; (Merck, Mumbai, India) placed on the surface of the
random number table was prepared) with assigned numbers wound with care taken to ensure accuracy. [9]
and treatment sealed in opaque envelopes. Statistical analysis
One hundred and forty patients with a mean age of Data obtained from both groups were analyzed using the
36.86 ± 12.4 years (range: 12‑65 years) were randomized Student’s t‑test SPSS, 15th version, SPSS Inc., Chicago.
and assigned to the LAD group (n = 64) or the conventional The data (mean ± SD) were compared between the two
dressing group (n = 76) by simple randomization [Figure 1]. groups. A P < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant.

Figure 1: Consort flowchart

258 Plast Aesthet Res || Vol 2 || Issue 5 || Sep 15, 2015