Comparison of knee-high Mediven ulcer kit and Mediven Plus compression stockings: measurement of leg volume, interface pressure and static stiffness index changes

Abstract

Ulcer stockings are produced to have higher interface pressure and easier application compared to those of classic medical compression stockings. We aimed to compare volume decrease, pressure loss and stiffness index of a classical medical compression stocking and an ulcer stocking of the same interface pressure range in 10 patients with bilateral venous and 10 persons with lymphatic insufficiency. Interface pressure measurement in supine and standing positions and optoelectronic volumetry served for primary outcome variables. Both stockings were capable of inducing remarkable gradual volume reductions in different time points except classic stocking at 2 h in phleboedema care. Ulcer stocking pressures in lymph- and phleboedema were highly superior. In lymphedema a gradual interface pressure loss was attributed to both stockings regardless of body positions. Static stiffness indices did not differ statistically except classic stocking at baseline (P=0.0312) and 2 h (P=0.0082) comprising venous edema patients. Both stockings acted similarly but ulcer stocking had considerably higher interface pressures in each measurement and raised stiffness indices initially and the two-layer system facilitates donning therefore ulcer stocking could serve an alternative of classic medical compression stocking even in the treatment of leg edema.

Keywords

• volumetry, static stiffness index, medical compression stocking, ulcer stocking.