Impact of Povidone-Iodine vs. Normal Saline Dressings on Healing Pressure Ulcers in Orthopaedic Patients: A Comparative Study

Pressure ulcers, commonly known as bedsores, are localized injuries to the skin and underlying tissues predominantly caused by prolonged pressure and shear forces, particularly in patients with limited mobility. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of povidone-iodine (5%) dressing compared to normal saline (0.9%) dressing on the healing of pressure ulcers in patients with musculoskeletal injuries admitted to the orthopedic department of Pt B.D. Sharma, PGIMS Rohtak. Using a quantitative research approach and a pre-experimental design, the study involved 40 patients who were assigned equally to two groups: Group-1 receiving povidone-iodine (5%) dressing and Group-2 receiving normal saline (0.9%) dressing. The effectiveness of the interventions was assessed using the Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (PUSH scale) on days 1, 3, 5, and 7. Data analysis was conducted using paired t-tests, unpaired t-tests, and one-way ANOVA. Results indicated a significant difference in healing rates between the two dressings. On day 1, the mean pressure ulcer scores were comparable, but by day 7, the scores revealed that Group-1 showed greater improvement (p<0.05). Additionally, a significant association was found between socio-demographic variables and the clinical profiles of the patients (p<0.05). In conclusion, povidone-iodine (5%) dressing demonstrated a slight but statistically significant advantage over normal saline (0.9%) dressing in promoting the healing of pressure ulcers. These findings highlight the potential of incorporating povidone-iodine dressing in clinical practice for better management of pressure ulcers in patients with musculoskeletal injuries. Further research is warranted to explore long-term effects and underlying mechanisms.