Short-stretch versus multilayer compression for venous leg ulcers: a comparison of healing rates

• Published in: Journal of wound care Vol. 12; no. 4; p. 139
• Main Authors: Ukat, A, Konig, M, Vanscheidt, W, Münter, K C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.04.2003
• Subjects: Aged; Bandages - economics; Bandages - standards; Equipment Design; Female; Hospital Costs - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Male; Nursing Assessment; Prospective Studies; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Ultrasonography, Doppler; Varicose Ulcer - diagnosis; Varicose Ulcer - therapy; Wound Healing
• ISSN: 0969-0700
• DOI: 10.12968/jowc.2003.12.4.26490

To compare the performance of two compression systems, (multilayer elastic [Profore], Smith and Nephew) and (short stretch [Comprilan], Beiersdorf), in the treatment of venous leg ulcers in a randomised controlled trial. Eighty-nine patients with venous leg ulcers were randomised to receive treatment with Profore (44 patients) or short-stretch (45 patients) compression bandages. Allevyn (Smith and Nephew) was used as the wound contact layer under both systems. Patients treated with Profore healed significantly faster than those treated with short stretch (p = 0.03) and were 2.9 times more likely to heal at any given time during the study period. Younger wounds healed significantly faster than older wounds (p = 0.01). Patients treated with Profore healed faster than those treated with short-stretch bandages. In addition, treatment costs are lower with Profore. In this trial the average cost per patient was [symbol: see text] 1345 (short stretch) and [symbol: see text] 587 (Profore).