title: Do ready-made compression stockings fit the anatomy of the venous leg ulcer patient?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  How usable two standardised measuring methods are for the selection of three different brands of ready-made below-knee compression stockings. Furthermore, this study aims to determine how many of the included patients fit into a ready-made compression stocking in a limited selection of brands.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients suffering from venous insufficiency and treated at a specialised wound healing centre were included in this prospective comparative study. Two standardised measuring methods were used to evaluate the suitability of three different brands of ready-made below knee compression stockings. The circumference was measured at three points and seven points below the knee. The results of these measurements were compared to three selected brands of ready-made compression stockings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Together, 43 consecutive patients (25 men and 18 women) were included in the study. When the leg was measured at three points, 53.5%, 34.9% and 0% of the patients fitted into brand 1, brand 2 and brand 3 of the ready-made compression stockings, respectively. When measured at seven points, only 4.7% of the patients fitted into brand 1, 7% in brand 2 and 0% of the patients fitted into brand 3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate that there is a need to standardise measuring methods in the selection of ready-made below-knee compression stockings and a need for an evaluation of the present stocking sizes in relation to the anatomy of the venous leg ulcer patient. This study has shown that ready-made compression stockings presently prescribed will not properly fit the majority of patients to prevent oedema and ulcer recurrence. Further studies focused on the development of new sizes or changes in fitting recommendations may help solve these problems.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  There were no external sources of funding for this study. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare with regard to the manuscript or its content.
authors.affiliation: RN, DH, The Copenhagen Wound Healing Center, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nørregaard
authors.affiliation: RN, DH, The Copenhagen Wound Healing Center, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bermark
authors.affiliation: MD, DMSci, Professor of Surgery, The Copenhagen Wound Healing Center, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gottrup
mesh_terms: D058128:Compression Bandages; D004487:Edema / Q000517:prevention & control; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D014945:Wound Healing