How to Use OpSite

OpSite Plus and Spray are common products for home use.

OpSite is an innovative polyurethane-based transparent dressing for wounds. Smith & Nephew manufacture seven products in the OpSite range for a variety of clinical applications. All are waterproof but still allow the skin to breathe. OpSite dressings produce superior cosmetic results to skin sutures and are more flexible in awkward areas of conventional gauze dressings. According to a study at the Naas general hospital in 2010, clinicians found OpSite dressings were "better than the dressing they routinely used for 92 percent of patients." The two commonly used products for home use are OpSite Plus and OpSite Spray.

Things You'll Need

• OpSite Spray
• Sticking plaster remover
• OpSite Plus

Instructions

OpSite Spray

1. 

   Keep the room well-ventilated when using OpSite spray.

   Check that the wound is dry and not weeping. You should use OpSite spray only on dry wounds, such as unbroken blisters, vaccination spots and minor grazes.

   Make sure you're in a well-ventilated area away from any naked flame source and do not smoke when applying the spray.

2. 

   Spray the dry wound from 6 inches away.

   Invert the can so that it is upside down. Point the nozzle at the wound site, and from 6 inches away spray the area evenly. Smith & Nephew recommend that you apply the dressing in thin layers and build it up for the best results. You should be able to flex the injury site without cracking the spray dressing.

3. 

   Use sticking plaster remover and cotton balls to slough off the dressing quickly.

   Remove the dressing if you need to reapply a new one by peeling it off. The spray dressing will also naturally come off over time or you can take it off with sticking plaster remover and a cotton ball.

OpSite Plus

1. 

   Use OpSite Plus for minor wet wounds.

   Use on injuries such as minor cuts and burns. OpSite Plus has an absorbent pad for use on wet wounds.

   Peel off the backing on the OpSite Plus dressing and center the pad over the wound. Smooth the transparent film from the center to the edges to adhere to the skin and make a waterproof seal.

2. 

   Change the dressing when the pad is wet.

   Change the dressing as required. You can check this easily because the transparent film over the top of the pad allows you to see if the dressing is wet. Remove the pad gently, taking care not to damage the skin, and dispose of the dressing responsibly.

3. 

   Consult with a doctor if the wound isn't healing.

   Repeat Step 1 to apply a new dressing. Consult with a health care professional as a precaution if it is not healing as you expect. If the wound is repairing well and is now dry, you can use OpSite Spray instead for the final days of healing.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not inhale the spray.

• Do not use the spray on children under 18 months old.

References

• Pubmed.gov: A Controlled Trial to Evaluate and Compare a Sutureless Skin Closure Technique (Op-Site Skin Closure) With Conventional Skin Suturing and Clipping in Abdominal Surgery
• Pubmed.gov: Comparative Study of Leg Wound Skin Closure in Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Operations
• Pubmed.gov: A Multi-Centre, Prospective, Clinical In-Market Evaluation to Assess the Performance of Opsite™ Post-Op Visible Dressings
• Smith & Nephew: Opsite Range
• Smith & Nephew: OpSite Spray
• Smith & Nephew: OpSite Plus