A randomised clinical trial of two different wound dressing materials for hip replacement patients

This randomised controlled trial compared the clinical and economic effects of two different dressing materials in patients undergoing hip replacement surgery. The participants were randomised into group A (N = 50), in which the dressing material was a modern hydrofibre dressing (Aquacel) applied with adhesive polyurethane film or group B (N = 50), in which the dressing was a conventional wound pad dressing with fibre tape fixation. At the first change of dressing, 59% of the patients in group A had wound area reactions (blister, erythema, oedema, skin injury and haematoma) whereas the corresponding number in group B was 81% (P = 0.02). The average dressing material costs per patient by the third postoperative day were €14.70 in group A and €8.70 in group B (P < 0.01). However, the dressing material costs represented only about 0.02% of the total cost of hip replacement surgery. It is concluded that the modern hydrofibre dressing with polyurethane film fixation treats the surgical wound after hip replacement surgery better than a traditional wound pad dressing with fibre tape fixation.