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


METHODS
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.


RESULTS
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).


CONCLUSIONS
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).
Ukat
A
A
Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Konig
M
M
Vanscheidt
W
W
Münter
K C
KC
D000368:Aged; D001458:Bandages / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D014945:Wound Healing