Context: More and more silver based products are becoming available and therefore it is necessary to prove beyond doubt the effectiveness of these products by research Aims: To study effects of use of Silver Nitratein healing of chronic wound Settings and design: Longitudinal observational study was carried out in a tertiary care academic
hospital. Methods: 100 Patients were recruited as cases using inclusion and exclusion criteria. Age, Gender, Occupation and Detailed history pertaining to Pain associated with wound, discharge from wound, site of
wound, and duration of wound. Clinical examination was done. Local examination and Investigations were carried out. Statistical Analyzis: Data was coded and analyzed in statistical software, STATA version 10.1, 2011. Descriptive statistics like mean and standard deviation were calculated to summarize continuous variables. Frequency and percentages were used to summarize categorical variables. p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Most common etiology was trauma (61%) followed by infections. 33 had diabetes out of which 16 were above 60 years. 64 patients healed completely
on Silver Nitrate dressing only with varied time of duration and 36 patients have required Split Thickness Skin grafting. 9 patients had wound of size 1–3 cm, 27 patients had 4–5 cm, 28 patients had 6–7 cm, 30 patients had 8–10 cm and 06 patients had 11–12 cm. 8–10 cm was most common wound size. Patients with wound size ≤ 7 cm has successfully healed with Silver Nitrate dressings only but patients with wound size >7cm required STSG. Wound with size >7 cm when
managed with Silver Nitrate dressings it is found to have increased duration of hospital stay. Conclusion: It is concluded that Silver Nitrate is
found to be very effective in early healing of chronic wound.
Keywords: Clinical study; Silver nitrate; Chronic; Wound, Management.