Contention/compression élastique

Abstract

Lower limb treatment by contention/compression (C/C) is the cornerstone for treating and preventing chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), lymphoedema and thromboembolic diseases. Bandages and/or medical stockings are proposed in such treatment, owing to their proven or supposed mode of action on the haemodynamic disorders resulting from venous and lymphatic diseases. Nevertheless, complete knowledge of their therapeutic potential and precise evaluation of the patient's needs remain necessary to establish adequate prescription. However, this knowledge is not sufficient, because many uncertain factors should also be taken into account such as the technique for putting up the bandages by the patient himself or by an untrained nursing staff. This essay analyses the different theoretical, practical and psychological elements, with a view to better approach issues and solutions regarding a thousand-year-old therapy accepted by everyone but whose mode of action still very much (too much?) come under the so-called medical art.