Ovena Learn
The wound care and compression learning center
Clinical primers and plain-language explainers written by the Ovena Clinical Team and reviewed by Dr. David Chahine, MD, clear answers for caregivers, patients, and clinicians without the medical-jargon fog.
Start here
Start here: the clinical primers
The three longer-form guides that cover the fundamentals. Read these first if you're new to collagen wound care, medical compression, or hydrocolloid dressings.
Primer · 8 min
Collagen wound dressings, the clinical guide
What collagen dressings are, how they bind MMPs to restart healing, when to use them for diabetic foot ulcers, pressure injuries, and surgical wounds, plus the 6-step application protocol.
Read guide →Primer · 8 min
Medical compression therapy, the clinical guide
Graduated compression explained, mmHg classes, sizing at home, DVT prevention on long flights, and how to keep compression garments effective past 6 months.
Read guide →Primer · 9 min
Hydrocolloid dressings, the cut-to-size guide
How occlusive moist-healing dressings work, cut-to-size roll vs pre-cut patches, when to use them, when not to, the application steps, and common uses from blisters to minor surgical sites.
Read guide →By question
By the question you came here to answer
Specific clinical questions caregivers, patients, and clinicians ask us most often, each answered in plain language with citations.
How-to · 6 min
How to apply a collagen wound dressing, the 6-step protocol
The exact steps a wound care nurse uses, plus the 4 mistakes that ruin a perfectly good dressing. With a size-selection guide and troubleshooting.
Read guide →Comparison · 7 min
Collagen vs hydrocolloid: which dressing for which wound?
Two common modern dressings, two completely different mechanisms. The decision tree wound clinicians actually use.
Read guide →Explainer · 9 min
What are matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)?
The biochemistry of why chronic wounds get stuck, and why collagen, silver, and oxidized-cellulose dressings all target the same enzyme problem.
Read guide →FAQ · 5 min
How often should you change a collagen dressing?
The 1–3 day standard, when to change more often, when to change less often, and the signs you have the cadence wrong.
Read guide →By condition
By condition: clinical pillar guides
Comprehensive guides for the specific clinical situations we get the most questions about. Each is the answer your wound nurse would give if you had unlimited time with them.
Pillar · 9 min
Collagen wound dressing for diabetic foot ulcer
Why DFUs stay stuck and how collagen addresses the specific biochemistry. The home care protocol plus the offloading and glycemic control that makes it actually heal.
Read guide →Pillar · 8 min
Best compression socks for nurses
What 20-30 mmHg actually means, how to wear them through a 12-hour shift, and the laundering routine that doubles their lifespan.
Read guide →Pillar · 7 min
Best compression socks for flying, Cochrane-backed guide
Why graduated compression cuts asymptomatic DVT risk by about 90% on long flights. What mmHg, when to put them on, and who has elevated risk.
Read guide →Pillar · 8 min
Pressure ulcer dressing selection by stage 1-4
The dressing your wound nurse would pick for each pressure injury stage, plus the offloading rules that matter at least as much as the dressing itself.
Read guide →Pillar · 7 min
Post-surgical compression socks, recovery guide
When to wear compression after hip/knee replacement, abdominal, or pelvic surgery. The mmHg, the duration, and the donning trick when you can't bend over.
Read guide →Coming next
Coming next
Our weekly publishing cadence. Bookmark this page or join the email list to get each new guide in your inbox.
Coming soon
Are compression socks safe during pregnancy?
Cochrane data, OB recommendations, and when in pregnancy to start. Plus how to size when your calves change weekly.
Coming soon
How to size compression socks at home
A printable tape-measure guide plus the 3 common sizing mistakes that make a $35 sock feel useless.
Coming soon
How to put on tight compression socks without breaking them
The three techniques nurses use plus when a sock aid is worth the $25.