title: Compression therapy in patients with venous leg ulcers.
abstract: Wund-D.A.CH. is the umbrella organization of the various wound care societies in German-speaking countries. The present consensus paper on practical aspects pertinent to compression therapy in patients with venous leg ulcers was developed by experts from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In Europe, venous leg ulcers rank among the most common causes of chronic wounds. Apart from conservative and interventional wound and vein treatment, compression therapy represents the basis of all other therapeutic strategies. To that end, there are currently a wide variety of materials and systems available. While especially short-stretch bandages or multicomponent systems should be used in the initial decongestion phase, ulcer stocking systems are recommended for the subsequent maintenance phase. Another - to date, far less common - alternative are adaptive Velcro bandage systems. Medical compression stockings have proven particularly beneficial in the prevention of ulcer recurrence. The large number of treatment options currently available enables therapists to develop therapeutic concepts geared towards their patients' individual needs and abilities, thus resulting in good acceptance and adherence. Compression therapy plays a crucial role in the treatment of patients with venous leg ulcers. In recent years, a number of different treatment options have become available, their use and application differing among German-speaking countries. The present expert consensus is therefore meant to outline concrete recommendations for routine implementation of compression therapy in patients with venous leg ulcers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Allergology, University Hospital Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dissemond
authors.affiliation: ICW (Initiative Chronic Wounds) and Wund-D.A.CH., School of Nursing, University Medical Center, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Assenheimer
authors.affiliation: ICW, Wound Center/Vascular Surgery, Asklepios Medical Center, Harburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Anke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bültemann
authors.affiliation: ICW and Wund-D.A.CH., Consulting and Training in Wound Management, Spelle, Germany.
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.affiliation: SAfW (Swiss Association for Wound Care), St. Urban 67, Langenthal, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gretener
authors.affiliation: SAfW, Spitex Interlaken area, Unterseen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kohler-von Siebenthal
authors.affiliation: AWA (Austrian Wound Association), Institute for Functional Phlebosurgery, Gottsdorf, Austria.
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koller
authors.affiliation: ICW, Department of Vascular Medicine, Angiology, HELIOS Medical Center Krefeld LLC, Krefeld, Germany.
authors.forename: Knut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kröger
authors.affiliation: AWA and Wund-D.A.CH., WPM Wound Care Management, Bad Pirawarth, Austria.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kurz
authors.affiliation: SAfW and Wund-D.A.CH., Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Severin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Läuchli
authors.affiliation: ICW, Group Practice Bramfeld, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Münter
authors.affiliation: SAfW, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Eva-Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Panfil
authors.affiliation: SAfW and Wund-D.A.CH., ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, School of Health, Winterthur, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Probst
authors.affiliation: ICW, Bachstraße 75, 22083, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Protz
authors.affiliation: ICW, Community Hospital Mittelrhein LLC, Center for Vascular Medicine and Wound Care, Koblenz, Germany.
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Riepe
authors.affiliation: AWA and Wund-D.A.CH., Feldkirch State Hospital, Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Feldkirch, Austria.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Strohal
authors.affiliation: SAfW and Wund-D.A.CH., Center for Venous Disorders Bellevue, Surgery/Vascular Surgery FEBVS, Phlebology SGP, Kreuzlingen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jürg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Traber
authors.affiliation: AWA and Wund-D.A.CH., Steinhäusl 126, 3033, Altlengbach, Austria.
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Partsch
mesh_terms: D058128:Compression Bandages / Q000145:classification*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D048228:Intermittent Pneumatic Compression Devices / Q000145:classification*; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*