Management of non-healable or maintenance wounds with topical povidone iodine.

Although complete healing may appear to be the logical goal for most patients and clinicians, some wounds do not have the potential to heal due to a number of factors such as inadequate vasculature, coexisting medical conditions and medications that prohibit the healing process. Local management of wounds that are considered to have poor potential for healing remains elusive. The purpose of this article is to review the evidence that supports the use of topical antiseptic agents in non-healable wounds. Retrospective chart audit was conducted to evaluate the use of povidone iodine in the management of wounds that were deemed to have poor healing potential.