title: Classification of compression bandages: practical aspects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Compression bandages appear to be simple medical devices. However, there is a lack of agreement over their classification and confusion over the use of important terms such as elastic, inelastic, and stiffness.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objectives were to propose terms to describe both simple and complex compression bandage systems and to offer classification based on in vivo measurements of subbandage pressure and stiffness.
  
  
  METHODS
  A consensus meeting of experts including members from medical professions and from companies producing compression products discussed a proposal that was sent out beforehand and agreed on by the authors after correction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pressure, layers, components, and elastic properties (P-LA-C-E) are the important characteristics of compression bandages. Based on simple in vivo measurements, pressure ranges and elastic properties of different bandage systems can be described. Descriptions of composite bandages should also report the number of layers of bandage material applied to the leg and the components that have been used to create the final bandage system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Future descriptions of compression bandages should include the subbandage pressure range measured in the medial gaiter area, the number of layers, and a specification of the bandage components and of the elastic property (stiffness) of the final bandage.
authors.affiliation: Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. Hugo.Partsch@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Partsch
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mosti
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Steinlechner
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schuren
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abel
authors.forename: Jean-Patrick
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Benigni
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Coleridge-Smith
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cornu-Thénard
authors.forename: Mieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Flour
authors.forename: Jerry
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hutchinson
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gamble
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Issberner
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Juenger
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moffatt
authors.forename: H A M
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.forename: Eberhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rabe
authors.forename: Jean F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Uhl
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zimmet
mesh_terms: D001458:Bandages / Q000145:classification*; D004548:Elasticity; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D011312:Pressure