BACKGROUND: Cost-effective therapy that heals ulcers rapidly and prevents recurrence would significantly impact patient care and the health system. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate compression stockings for treatment of venous ulcerations and prevention of recurrent ulceration; to analyze patient compliance; and to evaluate cost of compression stocking therapy. METHODS: Stocking therapy healed venous ulcers in 53 patients. The effect of continued stocking use on ulcer recurrence rate and treatment costs was evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients had good stocking usage; one developed recurrence (4%). Twenty-eight patients had bad or none usage; 22 had at least one recurrence (79%). Bad/none usage was associated with 31 of 32 (97%) recurrent ulcerations; good usage was associated with 52 of 58 (90%) nonrecurrent ulcers. Cost was a major reason for noncompliance. CONCLUSIONS: Continued stocking use after ulcer healing will prevent most recurrences and will provide a significant cost saving to the nation's health care budget.
BACKGROUND: Cost-effective therapy that heals ulcers rapidly and prevents recurrence would significantly impact patient care and the health system. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate compression stockings for treatment of venous ulcerations and prevention of recurrent ulceration; to analyze patient compliance; and to evaluate cost of compression stocking therapy. METHODS: Stocking therapy healed venous ulcers in 53 patients. The effect of continued stocking use on ulcer recurrence rate and treatment costs was evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients had good stocking usage; one developed recurrence (4%). Twenty-eight patients had bad or none usage; 22 had at least one recurrence (79%). Bad/none usage was associated with 31 of 32 (97%) recurrent ulcerations; good usage was associated with 52 of 58 (90%) nonrecurrent ulcers. Cost was a major reason for noncompliance. CONCLUSIONS: Continued stocking use after ulcer healing will prevent most recurrences and will provide a significant cost saving to the nation's health care budget.