Subbanna et al. 2007
India
PEDro=9
RCT (double blind)
N=28

Population: Patients with stage II ulcers. Treatment group (n=14): Mean age=34.25yrs; Gender: males=13, females=1; Control group (n=14): Mean age=31.64yrs; Gender: males=12, females=2.All subjects had stage II ulcers.
Treatment: Patients were randomly placed (double blind manner) in the treatment group which received 5mg/ml phenytoin solution soaked sterile gauge for their pressure ulcer dressing once daily for 15 days and the control group received saline soaked gauge.
Outcome Measures: Pressure ulcer scale for healing 3.0, ulcer size, ulcer volume

1. Improvement in PUSH 3.0 and ulcer size was seen in the topical phenytoin group however this difference did not reach statistical significance, p=0.261 and 0.132 respectively.
2. Reduction in ulcer volume was seen in the control group however it was not significant, p=0.777

Hollisaz et al. 2004
Iran
PEDro=7
RCT
N=83 (91 Pressure
ulcers)

Population: Gender: males = 83; Level of injury: paraplegia; Cause of injury: trauma. Stage of pressure ulcers: I = 33, II = 58.
Treatment: 1 of 3 dressing groups: 1) Simple dressing (SD) – changed twice daily; 2) Hydrocolloid dressing (HD) – changed twice weekly; 3) Adhesive plus phenytoin cream (PC) – changed once daily.
Outcome Measures: Healing status of pressure ulcer.

1. HD group had the most healing (74%) as compared to the PC group (40%, p<0.01) and the SD group (27%, p<0.005).
2. Of all the groups, the HD group also had higher rating of healing of stage I ulcers (p<0.05).
3. For stage II ulcers, HD treated ulcers healed better than SD treated ulcers (67% vs. 16%) p<0.005 but no better than PC (48%, p>0.05) treated ulcers .
4. HD also healed gluteal ulcers more completely than other groups (p<0.001); however, groups did not differ on healing of sacral ulcers.

Kaya et al. 2005
Turkey
PEDro=4
RCT
N=27 (49 Pressure ulcers)

Population: Age = 16-56 yrs; Gender: males = 24, females = 3; Ulcer stage: I = 12, II = 34, III = 3.
Treatment: Treatment group (n=15, 25 PU): an occlusive hydrogel dressing, changed every 4 days (unless contaminated). Control group (n=12, 24 PU): povidone-iodine soaked gauze changed daily.
Outcome Measures: Healing rate (cm2/day).

1. Healing rates did not differ between groups.
2. More wounds healed in the treatment group (n=21) than in the control group (n=13), p<0.04.

Whittle et al. 1996
Canada
Downs & Black score=9
Case study
N=4

Population: Mean age = 55.75 yrs; Gender: males = 3, females = 1; Level of injury: paraplegia = 2, tetraplegia = 2; Pressure ulcer (5 ulcers) stage: II = 1, III = 3, IV = 1
Treatment: Hydrogel dressings, for different time periods depending on the case.
Outcome Measures: Pressure ulcer improvement, measured weekly.

1. Hydrogel dressing application varied from 4 to 6 wks.
2. In all cases, pressure ulcers improved drastically, with 3 cases being completely healed.