E Andrea Nelson

..Foot ulcers in diabetes are associated with increased mortality, illness and reduced quality of life. Ulcer infection impairs healing and antimicrobial interventions may cure infection, aid healing and reduce amputation rates...

..Clinical guidelines therefore recommend that people continue to wear compression, usually in the form of hosiery (tights, stockings, socks) after their ulcer heals, to prevent recurrence...

..Additionally there was concern that the use of larval therapy may require a larger effect size in time to healing than originally proposed by the investigators...

..We evaluated the effectiveness of pentoxifylline, knitted viscose or hydrocolloid dressings, and single-layer or four-layer bandaging for venous ulceration...

..To compare venous ulcer recurrence and compliance with two strengths of compression hosiery...

..To establish the prevalence of foot ulceration in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in secondary care...

..To explore the characteristics of venous and arterial leg ulcer pain among people cared for in the community...

..The contribution of peripheral vascular disease to risk is unclear and further investigation is needed in a larger cohort...

..To identify the impact of pressure ulcers (PUs) and PU interventions on health-related quality of life (HRQL)...

..Researchers have proposed several indices to describe this change in interface pressure, including the static stiffness index (SSI) and the dynamic stiffness index (DSI). These indices can also be used to classify compression products...

..The anatomical elements of the lower limb work together to optimise venous return. This review examines the mechanisms involved, and the devices available to measure movement, giving opportunities for new preventive interventions...

..Reduced protective sensation is common in affected patients. The prevalence of arterial disease is low but may be under estimated due to high intolerance of ABPI...

..The main treatments are compression bandages and dressings. Topical treatments to reduce pain during and between dressing changes are sometimes used...

..However, the additional accuracy is clinically insignificant...

..EMLA appears to provide effective pain relief for venous leg ulcer debridement but the effect (if any) of EMLA on ulcer healing remains unknown...

..In contrast with diabetes, there has been a lack of research in this area and the impact of the problem from a patient perspective is poorly understood...

..Also future trials should measure time to ulceration as the primary end-point, since this is more informative economically and possibly also from a patient and clinical perspective...

..To review the evidence of effectiveness of dressings applied to venous leg ulcers...

..The authors are currently at the stage of screening papers for inclusion. Challenges so far have included generating the diagnostic search strategy and managing the peer referee process. Results should be available in the next year...

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..CONCLUSION: Alternating pressure mattresses for the prevention of pressure ulcers are more likely to be cost effective and are more acceptable to patients than alternating pressure overlays...

..This paper outlines the main objectives, methodology and progress of the study...