COMPARISON OF EFFICACY OF ALGINATE FILLER DRESSINGS WITH CONVENTIONAL SALINE DRESSINGS FOR CAVITY WOUNDS IN DIABETIC FOOT ULCER

Abstract

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers are a common and serious complication of diabetes mellitus and may be associated with delayed healing, infection, prolonged treatment, and risk of amputation. Objective: To compare the efficacy of alginate filler dressings with conventional saline dressings for cavity wounds in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted at General Surgery, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan from May 06, 2026 to August 10, 2026, included 88 patients with Wagner grade 2 or 3 diabetic foot cavity wounds, with 44 patients allocated to each group. Patients aged 15–70 years were enrolled through non-probability consecutive sampling and randomly assigned using the lottery method. Group A received conventional saline dressings, while Group B received alginate filler dressings. Results: The two groups were comparable at baseline. At week 6, the mean PUSH score was significantly lower in the alginate group than in the saline group (3.4 ± 1.5 vs. 5.6 ± 1.8, p<0.001). Mean wound area was also lower in the alginate group (3.9 ± 2.1 cm² vs. 6.1 ± 2.8 cm², p<0.001). Mean wound area reduction was greater with alginate dressings (69.0 ± 16.4% vs. 49.8 ± 18.7%, p<0.001), while the mean exudate score was lower (0.7 ± 0.6 vs. 1.2 ± 0.7, p<0.001). A ≥50% reduction in wound area was achieved in 36 (81.8%) patients in the alginate group compared with 25 (56.8%) in the saline group (p=0.020). Complete wound closure occurred in 15 (34.1%) versus 6 (13.6%) patients, respectively (p=0.044), while wound infection was observed in 3 (6.8%) versus 11 (25.0%) patients (p=0.039). Conclusion: Alginate filler dressings were more effective than conventional saline dressings in improving wound healing, reducing wound area and exudate, increasing complete wound closure, and reducing wound infection in patients with diabetic foot cavity wounds.