Evaluating A Novel Long Stretch Compression Wrap in the Management of Venous Leg Ulcers

Background

Venous leg ulcers afflict more than six million Americans. Compression is the preferred treatment for VLUs. There are a variety of compression wraps in use today ranging from short to long stretch. They also vary in the number of layers, two to four. We evaluated a novel long stretch compression wrap* in the treatment of venous leg ulcers. The primary endpoint was the reduction of ulcer surface area at 4 weeks.

Methods

A total of 20 patients were enrolled in this IRB-approved protocol with some patients receiving the long stretch wrap twice weekly and others receiving it once a week for four weeks.

Results

A statistically significant reduction in ulcer size was noted. In addition, with the use of this wrap, there was a reduction in leg circumference. Patients reported a high comfort level and clinicians recorded good scores on ease of use. Finally, there were no device-related adverse events.

Conclusion

This novel long-stretch-compression-wrap is a safe and viable option for patients with venous disease. This study was designed as a pilot investigation to evaluate the safety and initial effectiveness of the novel compression wrap. Larger clinical trials are planned.