Treatment of Chronic Leg Ulcers in the Community: A Comparative Trial of Scherisorb and Iodosorb

Ninety-five patients with chronic leg ulcers have been recruited from the community and randomized to have Scherisorb or Iodosorb dressings for the care of their ulcers. The overall healing rate at 10 weeks was 29% with no difference being found in the two dressing groups. The ulcers which healed had statistically significant higher basal temperature at entry to the trial (P< 0.05), were significantly smaller (P< 0.01), and had been present for the shorter time (P<0.01) compared with those which did not heal. Similar frequencies of dressing changes and time taken were found in both groups but the cost of treating a patient with Scherisorb was £3.33 compared with £4.68 for Iodosorb. We conclude that an acceptable healing rate was found with both dressings which is comparable with other community trials but that the addition of iodine as an antiseptic does not increase the chances of healing.