A prospective comparative evaluation of octenidine dihydrochloride and saline dressing in the management of diabetic foot ulcers

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of octenidine dihydrochloride dressing and saline dressing in healing diabetic foot ulcers. Material and methods: This was a prospective comparative study conducted in the Department of General Surgery, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar, India for 18 months. A total of 100 patients, 50 patients in each arm of Octenidine dihydrochloride dressing group and Saline dressing group, with complaints of chronic DFU, were included in this study. Regular wound dressings were done with octenidine dihydrochloride topical ointment in one group and with saline in other group and the wounds were assessed regularly for healing progress during the study period. Results: A total of 100 subjects with 50 in each group of octenidine dihydrochloride group and saline group completed the follow-up period. Among the total of 100 subjects, 76(76%) were male and 24 (24%) were female. There was a male preponderance in both the groups (72% males in octenidine dihydrochloride group and 80% males in saline group). Mean age was 57.1 in octenidine dihydrochloride group and 56.3 in saline dressing group. About 52% in octenidine dihydrochloride group and 50% in saline group had a habit of smoking and 40% in octenidine dihydrochloride group and 36% in saline group had a habit of alcohol consumption. Among the blood investigations done, haemoglobin (Hb) was taken into consideration for statistical analysis. Mean Hb in octenidine dihydrochloride group was 10.8 gm% and in saline group was 11.5 gm%. Mean duration of diabetes was 10.8 years in octenidine dihydrochloride group and 10.2 years in saline group. The comparison between the outcomes of octenidine dihydrochloride dressing group and saline dressing group in terms of surface area reduction of wounds were made. Conclusion: octenidine dihydrochloride dressing is more effective than saline dressing in achieving complete healing, reducing wound surface area, and decreasing morbidity in patients with DFU