Experimental investigation of pressure applied on the lower leg by elastic compression bandage

Fanette Chassagne (1, 2) , Frédéric Martin (1) , Pierre Badel (2) , Reynald Convert (1) , Pascal Giraux (3, 4) , Jérôme Molimard (2)

1 Thuasne
2 LGF-ENSMSE - Laboratoire Georges Friedel
3 Faculté de Médecine Jacques Lisfranc [Université Saint-Etienne]
4 LIBM - Laboratoire Interuniversitaire de Biologie de la Motricité

Compression therapy with stockings or bandage is the most common treatment for venous or lymphatic disorders. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of bandage mechanical properties, application technique and subject morphology on the interface pressure, which is the key of this treatment. Bandage stretch and interface pressure measurements (between the bandage and the leg) were performed on 30 healthy subjects (15 men and 15 women) at two different heights on the lower leg and in two positions (supine and standing). Two bandages were applied with two application techniques by a single operator. The statistical analysis of the results revealed: no significant difference in pressure between men and women, except for the pressure variation between supine and standing position; a very strong correlation between pressure and bandage mechanical properties (p<0.00001) and between pressure and bandage overlapping (p<0.00001); a significant pressure increase from supine to standing positions (p<0.0001). Also, it showed that pressure tended to decrease when leg circumference increased. Overall, pressure applied by elastic compression bandages varies with subject morphology, bandage mechanical properties and application technique. A better knowledge of the impact of these parameters on the applied pressure may lead to a more effective treatment.

Mots clés: compression bandage; pressure measurements; pressure variation; bandage application technique; bandage mechanical properties; subject morphology; venous and lymphatic disorders

Domaines: Biomécanique [physics.med-ph]; Matériaux

Fanette Chassagne, Frédéric Martin, Pierre Badel, Reynald Convert, Pascal Giraux, et al.. Experimental investigation of pressure applied on the lower leg by elastic compression bandage. Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 2015, 43 (12), pp.2967-2977. ⟨10.1007/s10439-015-1352-1⟩. ⟨hal-01251853⟩