Phlebology. 2016 Dec 8. [Epub ahead of print]
Advantages and disadvantages of graduated and inverse graduated compression hosiery
in patients with chronic venous insufficiency and healthy volunteers:
A prospective, mono-centric, blinded, open randomised, controlled and cross-over trial.
Riebe H(1), Konschake W(2), Haase H(2), Jünger M(2).
Author information:
(1)Department of Dermatology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
helene.riebe@uni-greifswald.de.
(2)Department of Dermatology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
BACKGROUND: The therapeutic effectiveness of compression therapy depends on the selection of compression hosiery.
OBJECTIVES: To assess efficacy and tolerability of graduated elastic compression stockings (GECS) and inverse graduated elastic compression stockings (PECS).
METHODS: Thirty-two healthy volunteers and thirty-two patients with chronic venous insufficiency were analysed; wear period: one week for each stocking type
(randomised, blinded).
PRIMARY OUTCOME: volume reduction of 'Lower leg' (Image3D®) and 'Distal leg and foot' (water plethysmography).
SECONDARY OUTCOMES: clinical symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency assessed by the Venous Clinical Severity Score, side effects and wear comfort in both groups.
RESULTS: -
Volume of 'Lower leg': significant reduction in healthy volunteers (mean GECS: -37.5 mL, mean PECS: -37.2 mL) and in patients (mean GECS: -55.6 mL, mean PECS: -41.6 mL).
- Volume of 'Distal lower leg and foot': significant reduction in healthy volunteers (mean GECS: -27 mL, mean PECS: -16.7 mL),
- Significant reduction in patients by GECS (mean: -43.4 mL), but non-significant reduction by PECS (mean: -22.6 mL).
- Clinical symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency were improved significantly better with GECS than with PECS, p < 0.001.
- GECS led to more painful constrictions, p = 0.047,
- PECS slipped down more often, p < 0.001.
CONCLUSION:
- GECS and PECS reduce volume of the segment 'Lower leg' in patients and healthy volunteers.
- Patients' volume of the 'Distal lower leg and foot', however, were diminished significantly only by GECS (p = 0.0001).
- Patients' complaints were improved by both GECS and PECS, and GECS were superior to PECS.
© The Author(s) 2016.
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