

A recent review found no statistical difference between healing times of the two wraps.3 The choice of which bandage system to use is based on the activity level of the patient, the usual position of the patient, presence of other conditions (i.e. Both offer very good results for healing venous leg ulcers. Assuming that arterial insufficiency is ruled out, let us look at the types of compression.Ĭompression Bandaging: There are short stretch (inelastic) and multilayer long stretch (elastic) options for compression bandaging. With an Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) of greater than 0.8, compression is the recommended treatment. The very first thing to do is rule out any significant arterial disease, or poor blood flow. The type of compression to use for healing a wound is based on the individual patient with the wound.
LEG COMPRESSION MACHINE SKIN
Once edema is present in the lower leg with any of the above factors present, it takes very little for a wound to occur: a scratch, a bug bite, a bump of the leg, or skin damage from long term swelling and a wound is born. By inadequate calf muscle activity, the blood can pool in the lower leg instead of flowing up through the veins.2 Approximately 60% of the blood from the deep venous system is propelled toward the heart with the calf muscle pump activity. The other factor is poor calf muscle pump function. This can be partially caused by impaired valves in the leg veins, causing venous reflux and venous hypertension. Of all the reasons mentioned above for edema, the main culprit for venous leg ulcers is chronic venous insufficiency. Whatever the reason for the edema, it WILL impair healing through several mechanisms including inhibiting fibroblasts (building blocks for new tissue), suppressing endothelial and epithelial cells, and accumulating cellular waste products. The cause of the edema may be related to injury, inactivity, gravity, systemic fluid overload, or chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). Chronic edema leads to skin changes and often causes open ulcerations. Acute edema can impair healing and should be controlled for the fastest repair of tissue (as with a sprained joint). Whenever there is edema in the area, healing will be compromised.

How about that? What’s the big deal about compression and wound healing? Or perhaps they have tried their own compression “style” and it has not gone well:Ĭan’t the wound just be covered with one of those fancy patches to heal it? Isn’t there an ointment or a new wound product that can heal this leg ulcer without covering the whole lower leg? Aunt Betty had some honey that healed her wound. Or by experiencing compression that was just applied incorrectly: The patient’s perception on compression may be skewed by thinking it is just “tight socks” that will not be comfortable:

Virtually no one is excited about wearing compression bandages or garments and.In those who have or treat chronic leg ulcers, few things evoke more reaction than the subject of compression: what type, how much, how often, over what primary dressing? But as clinicians, we understand two truths:
