Wound Fillers
Action
Wound fillers are available as pastes, granules, powders, beads, and gels that provide a moist healing environment, absorb exudate, and help debride the wound bed by softening the necrotic tissue.
Indications
Wound fillers may be used as primary dressings to manage partial- and full-thickness wounds, minimally to moderately exuding wounds, infected and noninfected wounds, and wounds requiring packing to fill dead space.
Advantages
May be absorbent
Promote autolytic debridement
Are easy to apply and remove
May be used with other products
Fill dead space
Disadvantages
Most not recommended for use in wounds with little or no exudate
Require secondary dressing
HCPCS code overview
The HCPCS codes normally assigned to wound fillers not elsewhere classified are:
A6261—paste, per fluid ounce
A6262—dry form, per gram
FlexiGel Strands Absorbent Wound Dressing
Smith & Nephew, Inc.
Wound Management
Action
FlexiGel Strands Absorbent Wound Dressing is a sterile, single-use bundle of absorbent matrix for use in moist wound dressing applications. The synthetic matrix absorbs excess exudate fluid, swells to conform to the wound contours, and entraps slough and necrotic debris within its strands to assist in debridement. FlexiGel Strands dressing is flexible, pliable, and nonadherent to aid in comfort.
Indications
For use as an external wound dressing, for the management of exudate from chronic wounds such as ulcers (venous, arterial, diabetic); pressure sores; donor sites; surgical incisions and excisions; lacerations; and burns (first-and seconddegree)
Contraindications
Not for use if wound gets larger or shows signs of irritation (reddening, inflammation), maceration (overhydration of skin), hypergranulation (excess tissue), or sensitivity (allergic reactions); in this event, a health care professional should be contacted
Contraindicated if package is open or damaged before use
For single-use only; shouldn’t be reused (FlexiGel Strands should be removed during the dressing change and at the end of treatment)
Contraindicated on third-degree burns
Application
Cleanse wound.
Apply a skin preparation to the periwound skin.
Apply FlexiGel Strands.
Apply a secondary dressing such as CovRSite or roll gauze (for venous leg ulcers, apply a compression wrap).
Dressing may be cut at the middle connecting band to accommodate wounds of various volume. FlexiGel Strands expands as it absorbs. Apply to fill half of the wound cavity. Don’t pack.
Removal
Change once a day or when secondary dressing reveals wound drainage.
Gold Dust
Southwest Technologies, Inc.
