Interface pressure and stiffness of ready made compression stockings: comparison of in vivo and in vitro measurements

Abstract

Objective: It is unknown if the pressure values of compression stockings indicated by the producers correspond to the actual compression pressure exerted in vivo. This study compared pressure and stiffness of ready-made compression stockings (Venosan) of different classes, measured on the leg and by laboratory testing.

Methods: This was an experimental study conducted in a textile laboratory of a company that manufactures compression stockings. Twelve legs from healthy volunteers were fitted with ready-made calf-length compression stockings of the European classes I, II and III. In addition, two class I stockings were applied over each other. The in vivo interface pressure was measured using the medical stocking tester (MST) in position B1, eight cm proximal to the inner ankle. Stiffness was defined by an increase of pressure due to an increase of stretch that reflects the elastic property of the textile and was assessed by measuring the difference of interface pressure between standing and supine position at B1. In the laboratory, the MST was used to check the pressure of these stockings on wooden leg models. Then circular slices were cut out from the stockings at the B1 level and stretched by a Zwick dynamometer in the transverse direction. Force/extension-curves were plotted, from which the pressure and stiffness of each individual stocking was calculated.

Results: The pressure profile measured on four positions along the leg by MST showed a degressive gradient on the wooden model but not on the human leg due to the measuring geometry in the ankle region. Pressure values on the leg correspond to the in vitro measurements calculated from the force/extension-curve with a bias (difference of the means) of -2.1 and 4.1 mm Hg. In 95% of the subjects, the difference was between -10.1 and 5.8 mm Hg (Bland Altman plot). The correlation between in vivo and in vitro measurement was highly significant (P < .0001, Spearman correlation coefficient; r = .8161). In vivo and in vitro measurement shows an increase of stiffness with increasing compression classes. The highest values are found for two class I stockings applied over each other.

Conclusion: Pressure and stiffness can be measured in vivo, correlate well with laboratory findings, and should be used in future studies, especially when different compression devices are to be compared.