[Compression treatment after burns].

After healing up of the injury wounds, hypertrophic scars and keloids often develop, which are histologically characterised by irregulary arranged collagen fibre bundles and a strong vascularisation. Approximately 20 years ago, the so-called compression clothing, as for example suits, masks, gloves, stockings, were first employed for the prevention and therapy of these complications. These means of compressions are crosswise and lengthwise elastical and consist predominantly of elasthan and viscose. The pressure acting on the skin lies between 25 and 32 mmHg: thereby the values are above the average capillary pressure of 20 mmHg. The efficiency of the compression clothing after a burn injury is well proved by several studies, and one knows today that, for example in the case of children as from the 5th year of life, the results are better than in the case of adults from the 35th year of life. The compression effected at least during a period of 15 months slows down the blood circulation, reduces the number of capillaries and makes the scar become more pale. Furthermore, the orthologically parallel arranged collagen fibres maintain their arrangement due to the compression pressure and do not get irregularily arranged.