Treating Leg Ulcers with Compression Therapy

Topics include:

• Applying compression therapy
• Advantages and disadvantages
• Patient education and compression therapy

Target audience

Health professionals working in acute care, outpatient departments, General Practice and domiciliary settings who manage people with Chronic Venous Insufficiency and Venous Leg Ulcers.

Purpose

Assist health professionals to be able to safely and effectively apply compression therapy to the lower limb.

Need

Chronic venous insufficiency is a common condition in Australia, which can lead to venous leg ulcers. About 1% of Australians over the age of 60 live with a venous leg ulcer. In 2012 this equated to over 42,600 persons. Venous leg ulcers consume significant health resources and impact the lives of those who live with them. Compression therapy promotes healing of venous leg ulcers and is the recognised primary management strategy.

To safely and effectively initiate, apply and monitor compression therapy clinicians require appropriate training, skills and confidence. However, many lack the necessary skills and confidence in compression therapy and therefore patients who could benefit are not offered compression therapy. Increased use of compression therapy to manage venous leg ulcers would result in improved patient outcomes and significant savings to the health care budget of governments, service providers and patients.