Classification of compression bandages: practical aspects.
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.
Partsch
Hugo
H
Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. Hugo.Partsch@meduniwien.ac.at
Clark
Michael
M
Mosti
Giovanni
G
Steinlechner
Erik
E
Schuren
Jan
J
Abel
Martin
M
Benigni
Jean-Patrick
JP
Coleridge-Smith
Philip
P
Cornu-Thénard
Andre
A
Flour
Mieke
M
Hutchinson
Jerry
J
Gamble
John
J
Issberner
Karin
K
Juenger
Michael
M
Moffatt
Christine
C
Neumann
H A M
HA
Rabe
Eberhard
E
Uhl
Jean F
JF
Zimmet
Steven
S
D001458:Bandages / Q000145:classification*; D004548:Elasticity; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D011312:Pressure