Comparison of the effectiveness of compression stockings and layer compression systems in venous ulceration treatment

Abstract

IntroductionThe aim of the research was to compare the dynamics of venous ulcer healing when treated with the use of compression stockings as well as original two- and four-layer bandage systems.Material and methodsA group of 46 patients suffering from venous ulcers was studied. This group consisted of 36 (78.3%) women and 10 (21.70%) men aged between 41 and 88 years (the average age was 66.6 years and the median was 67). Patients were randomized into three groups, for treatment with the ProGuide two-layer system, Profore four-layer compression, and with the use of compression stockings class II. In the case of multi-layer compression, compression ensuring 40 mmHg blood pressure at ankle level was used.ResultsIn all patients, independently of the type of compression therapy, a few significant statistical changes of ulceration area in time were observed (Student’s t test for matched pairs, p < 0.05). The largest loss of ulceration area in each of the successive measurements was observed in patients treated with the four-layer system – on average 0.63 cm2/per week. The smallest loss of ulceration area was observed in patients using compression stockings – on average 0.44 cm2/per week. However, the observed differences were not statistically significant (Kruskal-Wallis test H = 4.45, p > 0.05).ConclusionsA systematic compression therapy, applied with preliminary blood pressure of 40 mmHg, is an effective method of conservative treatment of venous ulcers. Compression stockings and prepared systems of multi-layer compression were characterized by similar clinical effectiveness.

Challenging the Use of Bandage Compression as the Baseline for Evaluating the Healing Outcomes of Venous Leg Ulcer-Related Compression Therapies in the Community and Outpatient Setting: An Integrative Review

“…Briefly, several authors reported that differences in the HRs are explained by the vast heterogeneity in the baselines due to the inclusion of ulcers with different sizes and of different duration [18, 19]. Our results confirm the above reports and show that the inclusion of ulcers of different sizes (large and short) and ulcers of different durations (short and long) contribute to severe heterogeneity in the baselines and differences in the HR among the reviewed bandages of four-LB, SSB compression, two-L SSB, four-L LSB, two-L LSB, and KTwo [12, 24, 27-30, 32, 34, 35, 42-44]. Again, this heterogeneity is still a significant limitation in the design of the current research, which needs to be addressed in future clinical studies.…”

Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Points for the Management of Venous Ulcers

“…However, factors like pain, drainage and difficulty in application limit its applicability [1]. Supplementary Table 5 shows a summary of studies evaluating compression techniques [69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76]. A Cochrane review revealed that compression increases ulcer healing rates; multicomponent and elastic bandage systems are more effective than single-component and inelastic bandage systems, respectively [77].…”

The role of compression therapy in the treatment of venous leg ulcers

“…4 In another study conducted in an ulceration treatment clinic on a group of 46 patients with venous ulcers, the authors demonstrated a similar effectiveness of the 2and 4-layer system as well as compression stockings. 55 In yet another study, a group of 134 patients with wounds of venous etiology was randomly divided into 2 groups. 41 In one group, individually selected compression stockings were used, and in the other group, short-stretch bandages were applied to compare their effectiveness.…”