When hydrofiber dressings come in contact with moisture, it creates a gel, similar to alginate dressing, while absorbing the drainage. This creates a moisture balance in the wound, protecting the wound and promoting a healthy environment.
When to use Hydrofiber
- Moderate to heavy drainage wounds
- Partial thickness burns
- Pressure ulcers Stages III and IV
- Traumatic wounds
- Surgical wounds
- Donor sites
- With compression bandages
- Cavity wounds
- Dry wounds when dampened with saline
Advantages of Hydrofiber
- Cost effective
- Highly absorptive
- Conforms to wound shape
- Comfortable
- Balances inflammatory response
- Easy to remove
- Can be worn for several days
Disadvantages of Hydrofiber
- Should not be used on patients sensitive to silver
- New concept in dressings
- Not compatible with oil-based products (i.e. petrolatum jelly)
- Secondary dressing may be needed to secure the dressing