The clinical use of a tubular compression bandage, Tubigrip, for burn-scar therapy: a critical analysis.

Control of burn-scar hypertrophy remains a priority in the care of the burn patient. However, because of the problems associated with traditional compression therapy methods a study of the clinical utility of a tubular compressive bandage (TCB) was initiated. The clinical effectiveness of TCB was determined by studying 210 separate anatomic burn sites in 88 burn patients with a mean age of 25 years and a mean burn size of 21 per cent of the total body surface area (TBSA). To facilitate analysis of the results the patients were divided into two groups, the first group consisted of 71 patients who received prophylactic pressure therapy and a second group of 17 patients who received therapeutic pressure therapy after the establishment of hypertrophic scars. Mean follow-up of the entire group of patients was 11 months. The anatomic area involved by the burn was the most important factor in determining the effectiveness of TCB in this study. Failures primarily occurred at sites of mobility where pressure could not be consistently delivered or maintained, including the digits of the hand, axilla, groin and the head/neck regions. Overall, 85 per cent of the anatomic sites treated had good or satisfactory results. Based on the results of this study, we use TCB on all burn patients, who are at risk of developing burn-scar hypertrophy, immediately after the burn wound has healed or been surgically closed.