Comparative efficacy of silver alginate dressings versus standard gauze in enhancing wound healing post‐mastectomy for triple‐negative breast cancer: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Abstract

This meta-analysis evaluates the efficacy of silver alginate dressings (SAD) compared to standard gauze (SG) in enhancing wound healing and reducing scar formation post-mastectomy in patients with triple-negative breast cancer. From an initial pool of 1245 articles, five studies met the inclusion criteria. The analysis revealed that SAD significantly improve early wound healing 1 week post-mastectomy, as indicated by lower Redness, Edema, Ecchymosis, Discharge, and Approximation (REEDA) scales (I ² = 85%; Random: SMD: −7.08, 95% CI: −8.26 to −5.98, p < 0.01), compared to SG. Additionally, long-term scar outcomes measured by the Manchester Scar Scale (MSS) 5 months post-mastectomy showed a notable reduction in scar formation (I ² = 95%; Random: SMD: −12.97, 95% CI: −16.20 to −9.75, p < 0.01)) in the silver alginate group. The findings support the use of SAD in post-mastectomy care for triple-negative breast cancer patients but highlight the need for further research on long-term safety and cost-effectiveness.