title: A comparative clinical study on five types of compression therapy in patients with venous leg ulcers.
abstract: The aim of this study was to compare five types of compression therapy in venous leg ulcers (intermittent pneumatic vs. stockings vs. multi layer vs. two layer short stretch bandages vs. Unna boots). Primary study endpoints were analysis of changes of the total ulcer surface area, volume and linear dimensions inside observed groups. The secondary end points were comparisons between all groups the number of completely healed wounds (ulcer healing rates), Gilman index and percentage change of ulcer surface area. In total, 147 patients with unilateral venous leg ulcers were included to this study. Participants were randomly allocated to the groups: A, B, C, D and E. After two months the healing rate was the highest in group A (intermittent pneumatic compression) - 57.14%, 16/28 patients, B (ulcer stocking system) - 56.66%, 17/30 patients and C (multi layer short stretch bandage) - 58.62%, 17/29 patients. Significantly much worse rate found in group D (two layer short stretch bandages) - only 16.66%, 5/30 patients and E (Unna boots) - 20%, 6/30 patients. The analysis of changes of the percentage of Gilman index and wound total surface area confirmed that intermittent pneumatic compression, stockings and multi layer bandages are the most efficient. The two layer short - stretch bandages and Unna boots appeared again much less effective.
authors.affiliation: 1. Department of Medical Biophysics, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Pawel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dolibog
authors.affiliation: 1. Department of Medical Biophysics, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franek
authors.affiliation: 1. Department of Medical Biophysics, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland ; 2. Department of Physiotherapy Basics, Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Jakub
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Taradaj
authors.affiliation: 1. Department of Medical Biophysics, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Patrycja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dolibog
authors.affiliation: 1. Department of Medical Biophysics, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Blaszczak
authors.affiliation: 2. Department of Physiotherapy Basics, Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polak
authors.affiliation: 3. Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Ligia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brzezinska-Wcislo
authors.affiliation: 4. Depatment of Internal, Autoimmune and Metabolic Medicine, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hrycek
authors.affiliation: 5. Department of General and Vascular Surgery, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Urbanek
authors.affiliation: 6. Department of General, Vascular and Transplant Surgery, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ziaja
authors.affiliation: 3. Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kolanko
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D058128:Compression Bandages; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009779:Occlusive Dressings; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Unna boots; compression stockings; short stretch bandages; venous leg ulcers; wound healing