Do ready-made compression stockings fit the anatomy of the venous leg ulcer patient?

Abstract

There were no external sources of funding for this study. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare with regard to the manuscript or its content.

The lived experience of recurrence prevention in patients with venous leg ulcers: An interpretative phenomenological study

“…Additionally, our findings show that compression stocking are worn although ill-fitting stockings caused skin-trauma through rubbing. Wearing stockings that do not fit was also demonstrated in Nørregaard's and colleagues work show that ready-made compression stockings presently prescribed will not properly fit the majority of patients to prevent oedema and ulcer recurrence (Norregaard, Bermark et al 2014). The authors concluded that there is a need to standardise measuring methods for ready-made below-knee compression stockings as not all patients have the same anatomy.…”

Chronic leg ulcer: does a patient always get a correct diagnosis and adequate treatment?

“…There are some studies that show that custom-made stockings would fit better than ready-made stockings. Norregaard et al 30 for instance showed that ready-made stockings only fit 0%-5%, using the seven-points measuring method, in patients with leg ulcers. In an older study, Mooij and Oosterwal 31 showed that only 5% of women with venous insufficiency fitted a ready-made stocking.…”

A new compression stocking with well-defined pressure—a randomized controlled pilot study

“…To solve these problems, various textile materials and stocking models have been marketed and there is a wide range of different sizes and shapes of stockings as well as custom-made compression stockings (also known as “made to-measure”) available today. Despite this, many ready-made standard compression stockings do not properly fit the majority of patients using current standardized measuring methods, 5 and even custom-made or perfectly fitted standard stockings cannot accommodate changes in leg circumference that occur as edema decreases/increases.…”

“…To solve these problems, various textile materials and stocking models have been marketed and there is a wide range of different sizes and shapes of stockings as well as custom-made compression stockings (also known as "made to-measure") available today. Despite this, many readymade standard compression stockings do not properly fit the majority of patients using current standardized measuring methods, 5 and even custom-made or perfectly fitted standard stockings cannot accommodate changes in leg circumference that occur as edema decreases/increases. Furthermore, since standard stocking classes focus on exerted pressure at the ankle region, they usually cause uneven pressure (e.g., excessive or peak focal pressure) around and along the lower extremities due to differing leg morphologies and anatomical structures.…”