INTERFACE PRESSURE MEASUREMENTS UNDERNEATH ELASTIC AND NONELASTIC BANDAGES

Objective: To evaluate the pressure at the skin underneath short stret ch (Comprilan) and elastic (Elodur) bandages at different places on th e leg and in time. Design: Prospective study in two groups, comparing the two different kinds of bandages. Setting: Department of Dermatolog y, Academisch Ziekenhuis Maastricht, The Netherlands. Patients: Thirty -nine legs of 35 subjects, 33 known to have venous insufficiency (veno us leg ulcers and varicosities) and two healthy subjects. Main outcome measures: Interface pressure recordings were made using an Oxford Pre ssure Monitor. The sensor cells were placed at 12 different places on the leg. Recordings were made in the supine and standing positions and when standing on the toes. Results: The pressure with the short stret ch bandage showed a rapid decrease in interface pressure in the supine position whereas the standing and active pressure stayed relatively h igh. With the elastic bandages the pressures stayed high in all positi ons. Conclusions: The drop in pressure in the supine position for shor t stretch bondages ensures a continuation of the arterial influx. Beca use of this, short stretch bandages can stay on during the night and b e worn for a whole week. It is therefore safer and more economical to use short stretch than elastic bandages.