ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Acta Vulnologica 2006 June;4(2):73-80

Copyright © 2006 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Sub-bandage pressure measurement and stiffness index: a new method for studying compression therapy

Mosti G., Mattaliano V.

Reparto di Angiologia e Cardiologia Clinica M.D. Barbantini, Lucca

Aim. Measuring sub-bandage pressure and stiffness is possible by means of simple devices.
Stiffess is defined as the pressure increase when calf circumference increase by 1 cm; Static Stiffness index consider 10 the cut-off value between elastic and inelastic bandage.
Methods. We measured sub-bandage pressure with elastic and inelastic bandage by menas of Kikuhime and small sensor.; measurements were performed in supine posistion, resting and during a foot dorsiflexion, standing and during tip toeing.
Results. Different bandages can induce similar resting pressure; the stretch applayed to the bandage changes the resting pressure but doesn’t change the stiffness; inelastic bandage induces high resting pressure similar or higher than elastic ones; these last ones induce lower working pressure compared to the anelastic bandages; applyng padding material lowers the pressure but doesn’t reduce stiffness. Multi-layer bandages have different stiffness depending on the kind of the constituting bandages. The kit-packaging itself doesn’t guarantee a proper application; they can get a great range of sub-bandage pressure when not properly applied.
Conclusion. Resting pressure doesn’t differentiate between different kind of bandages; stiffness has greater value as it has direct correlation with beneficial haemodynamic effects. Multilayer systems have higher stiffness compared with single bandages but they need a proper technique to be correctly applied.