Wound-bed preparation is considered the gold standard for chronic non-healing wounds, particularly venous leg ulcers. Several systematic reviews and meta-analyses have studied silver dressings as innovative treatment products designed to control and inhibit infection and provide an environment conducive to wound healing. At the same time, cost savings and improved effectiveness are concerns in clinical wound treatment. There is little literature on the cost-effectiveness of silver dressings versus other approaches to treating lower leg venous ulcers.

Michaels and colleagues set out to determine whether there is any significant reduction in treatment costs or increase in wound healing rate among patients with lower leg venous …