Correlation of disease comorbidity with prescribed treatment among insured U.S. lymphedema patients.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to define the current forms of treatment in a contemporary population of lymphedema (LED) patients for LED related to breast cancer, the most prevalently diagnosed LED comorbidity in Western countries, and phlebolymphedema with venous leg ulcer (PLEDU), a sequela of chronic venous disease. The goals of LED therapy are to reduce edema, thereby improving function and related symptoms, and to improve skin integrity to prevent development of infection. Treatment is generally nonsurgical: conservative care, including complex physical therapy, manual lymphatic drainage, and compression bandaging; or pneumatic compression device (PCD) therapy by a simple nonprogrammable device or an advanced programmable device. METHODS: To determine the frequency of individual types of treatment for LED and their relationship to breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) and PLEDU, we queried claims from a deidentified Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant commercial administrative insurance database with >165 million members. A total of 26,902 patients identified with LED who had been enrolled with continuous medical benefits for 12 months before and after the index date for the complete years 2012 through 2016 were separated into four treatment categories: no treatment, conservative care, simple PCD (SPCD), and advanced PCD. LED treatment was related to the BCRL and PLEDU comorbidities. RESULTS: BCRL patients, who represented 32.1% of all study patients, made up 41% of all patients receiving conservative care and 24% of patients receiving PCD therapy. By contrast, PLEDU patients (9.6% of study patients) were proportionally under-represented in the conservative care group (7.8%) but composed a disproportionately high share of the PCD therapy group (17.7%). PLEDU patients represented 23.5% of all LED patients prescribed SPCD therapy, whereas BCRL patients composed 10.3% of total LED patient SPCD prescriptions (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis of a large health care administrative database showed clear differences between the way BCRL and PLEDU patients are treated. Compared with BCRL patients, PLEDU patients were less likely to receive conservative care and more likely to be prescribed SPCDs for pneumatic compression therapy. These differences suggest that lymphatic therapy may be undervalued for treatment of chronic venous swelling and prevention and treatment of PLEDU.

Management of upper extremity deep vein thrombosis in Occitanie: practice assessment.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) is increasing. Its management is sometimes complex and difficult due to its complications and the lack of strong recommendations. The aim was to describe the practice of vascular physicians in Occitanie region in the management of upper extremity deep vein thrombosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We used a descriptive observational study in the form of a declarative survey by means of a questionnaire from April to May 2019 among vascular physicians. RESULTS: Of the 142 physicians contacted, 84 responded, with a reply rate of 59.1%. The majority of physicians introduced low-molecular-weight heparin treatment (60.71%) and 29.76% direct oral anticoagulation after a diagnosis of UEDVT. Three months of anticoagulation was chosen by 69% of physicians against 27.4% for a duration of 6 months. Diagnostic work-up included biological risk factors, chest and/or cervical radiography and ultrasonography with dynamic maneuvers. Three quarters of doctors recommended venous compression. A control ultrasonography was performed for 67.86% of patients at one month and at the end of treatment. After the acute phase, 63% of physicians introduced direct oral anticoagulation and 11% recommended venous revascularization. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The mobilization of vascular physicians reflects their interest for this pathology. The management of UEDVT requires specific studies to address therapeutic modalities, the duration of anticoagulation or the place of venous compression in the acute phase.

The effectiveness of a self-made modular elastic compression device for patients with a fracture of the tibia and fibula.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the effectiveness of a self-made modular elastic compression device for patients with a fracture of the tibia and fibula. METHODS: Fifty-nine healthy adult patients with a unilateral fracture of the tibia and fibula were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group was given the self-made combined elastic compression device for the compression treatment of the affected limbs after the operation. The main endpoints included the convenience, safety, and effectiveness of the self-made modular elastic compression device for patients with a fracture of the tibia and fibula. RESULTS: There were 29 cases in the experimental group and 30 cases in the control group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the general data: age, gender, fracture site, and cause of injury. The preoperative swelling elimination time was 3.3 ± 1.2 days, and the postoperative swelling elimination time was 3.1 ± 1.4 days in the experimental group; the preoperative swelling elimination time was 6.3 ± 1.2 days, and the postoperative swelling elimination time was 7.3 ± 1.2 days in the control group. The preoperative and postoperative swelling degree in the experimental group was shorter than those in the control group. The difference in the postoperative detumescence time between the experimental group (3.1 ± 1.4 days) and the control group (7.3 ± 1.2 days) was significant, and the total hospital stay was 8.1 ± 1.5 days in the experimental group and 13 ± 2.5 days in the control group with a statistical significance of P < 0.05. The change of discharge hemoglobin volume (11.2 ± 6.5 g/L) of the experimental group was lower than that of the control group (3.5 ± 1.2 days), the total drainage volume was 260 ± 50 ml, and the change of admission and discharge hemoglobin volume was 30.3 ± 10.4 g/L. Specifically, although the difference in the average hospital stay between the two groups was statistically significant, the difference was only 1 day, and the clinical difference was not significant. However, in the change of the cumulative drainage volume and hemoglobin volume, the experimental group that was given compression therapy was significantly lower than the control group with a statistical significance (P < 0.05). The pressure injury (4 cases) in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group (8 cases) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: A modular combined elastic compression device in patients with a tibial and fibular fracture can significantly accelerate a patient's rehabilitation, shorten the hospital stay, reduce blood loss, relieve the patient's pain, and relieve the patient's social-economic burden during recovery.

Should compression bandage be performed after total knee arthroplasty? A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Compression bandage often is used after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) to alleviate pain, ameliorate swelling, and reduce bleeding. However, there is controversy about its application due to conflicting clinical outcomes and potential compression-related complications. This meta-analysis aimed to answer the question of if compression bandage should be implemented routinely after TKA. METHODS: Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on compression bandage were comprehensively retrieved utilizing search engines such as PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, up to September 2019. Studies included in the meta-analysis were those that compared post-operative pain score, swelling, total blood loss, pre- and post-operative hematocrit levels differences, range of motion (ROM), and complications, using Review Manager 5.3.0. RESULTS: Included were seven RCTs, which reported on 511 knees. The pooled results showed the compression bandage group was associated with a greater post-operative pain score during ambulation at 48 h (WMD = 0.70, 95% CI 0.07 to 1.34, P = 0.03), compared with the non-compression bandage group. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups in post-operative pain scores at the other times, swelling, blood loss, ROM, or other complications (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The current evidence is unable to conclude that compression bandage is necessary after primary TKA. Surgeons routinely undertaking compression bandage should deliberate whether there is enough clinical evidence.

Comparação do curativo compressivo vs. pulseira hemostática após cateterização por via radial / Comparison of conventional compressive dressings vs. wristband devices after catheterization by radial approach

Introdução: Dispositivos dedicados à compressão do sítio de punção radial adicionam custo ao procedimento e não foram adequadamente comparados aos curativos compressivos. Avaliamos a efetividade e a segurança de ambas as formas de hemostasia em pacientes submetidos à cinecoronariografia e/ou intervenção coronária percutânea na prática diária. Métodos: Estudo prospectivo, multicêntrico e não randomizado, que incluiu pacientes consecutivamente submetidos a procedimentos por via radial. A modalidade de compressão ficou a critério do operador e da disponibilidade das pulseiras hemostáticas. O objetivo primário foi a comparação da patência da artéria radial no sétimo dia pós-procedimento, aferida por meio do Doppler. Secundariamente, avaliamos a ocorrência de hemorragia/hematoma no sítio de punção durante a compressão, após a retirada do dispositivo e no sétimo dia pós-procedimento. Resultados: Foram avaliados 528 pacientes, 416 que usaram o curativo compressivo e 112 que usaram a pulseira hemostática. Na fase da retirada do introdutor e logo após sua remoção, notou-se uma incidência maior de sangramento no grupo curativo compressivo (13,4% vs. 0%; p < 0,001). Todos os sangramentos foram pequenos (tipo I ou II) e não necessitaram medidas adicionais. Aos 7 dias, observou-se apenas formação de pequenos hematomas no sítio da punção em 7,1% dos casos que utilizaram a pulseira de compressão. Não houve diferença nas taxas de patência da artéria radial (3,8% vs. 7,1%; p = 0,20). Conclusões: O uso de pulseira dedicada à hemostasia da artéria radial não resultou em maiores taxas de patência arterial tardia quando comparada ao curativo compressivo simples

Background: Wristband devices used in the compression of the radial puncture site add cost to the procedure and have not been adequately compared with conventional compressive dressings. This study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of both forms of hemostasis in patients undergoing coronary angiography and/or percutaneous coronary intervention in daily practice. Methods: A prospective, multicenter, nonrandomized study, which included consecutive patients who underwent procedures through radial access. The type of compression was at the interventionist's discretion and the availability of wristband devices. The main objective was to compare the patency of the radial artery on the 7th day after the procedure, measured by Doppler. Secondarily, the authors evaluated the occurrence of bleeding/hematoma at the puncture site during compression, after removal of the device and on the 7th day after the procedure. Results: This study evaluated 528 patients, 416 using conventional compressive dressings and 112 using wristband devices. When the sheath was removed and soon after its removal, a higher incidence of bleeding in the conventional compressive dressings group was observed (13.4% vs. 0%; p < 0.001). All bleeding events were small (type I or type II) and did not require further actions. At 7 days, there were only small hematomas at the puncture site in 7.1% of cases that used the wristband device. There was no difference in the patency rates of the radial artery (3.8% vs. 7.1%; p = 0.20). Conclusions: The use of wristband devices for radial artery hemostasis did not result in higher rates of late arterial patency when compared to conventional compressive dressings

New advances in compression therapy for venous leg ulcers.

Leg ulceration, often caused by venous stasis, arterial insufficiency, or both, is a common chronic health condition often associated with a prolonged healing trajectory and frequent recurrence. It is estimated that approximately 1.5 to 3.0 per 1,000 adults have active leg ulcers, and the prevalence continues to increase due to an aging population. Management of chronic edema using compression is crucial to promote healing of venous leg ulcers. The principle of compression therapy is simple, involving the use of external pressure in the forms of bandages or wraps to move the fluid from the interstitial space back into the intravascular compartment and prevent reflux. This article synthesizes and appraises the evidence for various types of compression therapies. It also addresses best practice recommendations for the management of leg ulcers when arterial circulation is considered suboptimal.

Efecto de los pantalones compresivos en la amplitud articulary el rendimiento en el salto vertical / Compression shorts effects in the hip range of motion and in vertical jump

Objetivo: Este estudio pretende determinar si la compresión provoca cambios mecánicos en el movimiento y se producen incrementos del rendimiento deportivo. Material y métodos: Participaron en el estudio 8 sujetos de sexo masculino ([mediana ± DE] edad: 25,6 ± 10,3 años, talla: 177,9 ± 2,9 cm, peso: 71,9 ± 7,4 kg). Se evaluó la amplitud articular pasiva mediante tres pruebas: Thomas, Ridge y flexión de cadera con la pierna estirada, y la amplitud articular activa durante el salto vertical. Los valores del ROM fueron determinados utilizando un sistema de videografía 2D. La altura del salto y la fuerza máxima realizada durante la impulsión se utilizaron para comparar el rendimiento. Cada una de las pruebas se realizó utilizando pantalones de compresión (tejido indesmallable por urdimbre, 57% poliamida y 43% elastómero), mallas de lycra convencionales y ropa interior como caso control, mediante un método aleatorio balanceado. Resultados: No se observaron diferencias significativas entre las tres condiciones en los dos parámetros de rendimiento. En cambio, se observó que la compresión limita significativamente la amplitud articular de la cadera, disminuyendo la extensión y la flexión máxima durante la valoración pasiva y la flexión máxima durante la valoración activa. Conclusiones: Los pantalones compresivos actúan en la misma línea que los vendajes funcionales, no varían el rendimiento de la actividad deportiva pero restringen la movilidad de las articulaciones afectadas por la compresión. Esta limitación puede tener efectos profilácticos al prevenir lesiones cuando se excede súbitamente el límite articular individual(AU)

Objective: The purpose of this study was to asses whether compression affects movement mechanics and increases sport performance. Material and methods: Eight subjects participated in the study ([mean±SD] age: 25.6±10.3 years, height: 177.9±2.9cm, weight: 71.9±7.4kg). Passive range of movement was evaluated by means of Thomas, Ridge and hip flexion with straight leg tests. The active range of movement was assessed during vertical jump. Values were determined using 2D analysis. Jump height and peak force applied during impulse phase were used for performance comparison. Tests were performed in three different conditions, using compression shorts (warp knitted fabric 57% Polyamide and 43% Elastan), standard lycra shorts and underwear as a control using a balanced, randomised design. Results: There were no significant differences between the three conditions in the performance parameters, whereas compression significantly limited the hip range of motion (ROM) during either passive or active evaluations. Conclusions: Compression garments act as functional bandages, allowing normal functional movement but restricting ROM. These limitations could have prophylactic effects, preventing injuries when suddenly exceeding the limit of individual joints(AU)