Table 3.

Properties of Dressings

	Protect the Wound from Bacteria and Foreign Material	Absorb Exudate from the Wound	Prevent Heat and Fluid Loss from the Wound	Provide Compression to Minimize Edema and Obliterate Dead Space	Be Nonadherent and Removable without Causing Trauma	Create a Warm, Moist Occluded Environment	Cover an Unsightly Wound	Minimize Pain	Cost-Effectiveness
Ointment only	+	−	−	−	++	+	−	−	+++
Ointment and gauze supported by tape	++	++	−	++	−	+	+	−	++
Ointment and Telfa	++	+	−	+	+/−	+	+	−	++
Films	+++	−	+	−	−	+	−	+	++
Four-layer technique with tape	++	+	++	++	+/−	+	+	−	+
Four-layer technique with film	+++	+	+++	+	+/−	+++	+	+	−