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BANDAGES
COMPRESSION BANDAGES
RxFit® Bandages are manufactured in Germany according to the strictest international standards such as DIN EN ISO 9001, DIN EN ISO 13485, the provisions laid down in the Medical Device Directive (MDD) 93/42/EEC and the national regulations of the German Law on Medical Devices.
Click on an RxFit® Bandage product below to view its description further down this page:
Click on an RxFit® Bandage product below to view its description further down this page:
Available from Medis®:
MEDIS is the founder of the “Scientific Bandaging” principle and a leader in the field of compression bandaging. “Scientific Bandaging” takes principles and laws evolved over many years and implement it in a practical but scientific method of compression bandaging. For too many years professionals applied compression bandaging unscientifically and inadvertently causing serious complications (Callam, Ruckley, 1987).
“SCIENTIFIC BANDAGING”
The following principles form part of this method:
1. The ideal compression differs from the recumbent to standing position. Anti-embolism prevention research has shown years ago that compression above 18mmHg compromises arterial supply to subcutaneous tissue and muscle in the patient lying flat in bed. As soon as this same patient stands upright, the effective compression becomes at least 30-40mmHg depending on what research you study.
2. Sub-bandage Pressure is highly dependent on leg circumference. The wider the circumference the lower the Sub-bandage Pressure.
3. Sub-bandage Pressure is highly dependent on the number of layers used and thus the % overlap when applied.
4. Sub-bandage Pressure is highly dependent on the extension at which a bandage is used. Most long stretch bandages are used at 50% extension.
5. Method of action of Short stretch and Long stretch bandages are quite different.
6. Cohesive bandages used to hold bandages in place, always add to final sub-bandage pressure.
7. It is possible to measure the Sub-bandage Pressure of most single bandages at a specific extension, overlap and leg circumference. This can hardly ever be 100% accurate, but at least gives us a relatively accurate estimate.
8. The Sub-Bandage Pressure is the sum of each single bandage’s Sub-Bandage Pressure, when using long stretch bandages. This has not been finalized by the scientific fraternity in our opinion, but is probably acceptable for practical purposes.
The following principles form part of this method:
1. The ideal compression differs from the recumbent to standing position. Anti-embolism prevention research has shown years ago that compression above 18mmHg compromises arterial supply to subcutaneous tissue and muscle in the patient lying flat in bed. As soon as this same patient stands upright, the effective compression becomes at least 30-40mmHg depending on what research you study.
2. Sub-bandage Pressure is highly dependent on leg circumference. The wider the circumference the lower the Sub-bandage Pressure.
3. Sub-bandage Pressure is highly dependent on the number of layers used and thus the % overlap when applied.
4. Sub-bandage Pressure is highly dependent on the extension at which a bandage is used. Most long stretch bandages are used at 50% extension.
5. Method of action of Short stretch and Long stretch bandages are quite different.
6. Cohesive bandages used to hold bandages in place, always add to final sub-bandage pressure.
7. It is possible to measure the Sub-bandage Pressure of most single bandages at a specific extension, overlap and leg circumference. This can hardly ever be 100% accurate, but at least gives us a relatively accurate estimate.
8. The Sub-Bandage Pressure is the sum of each single bandage’s Sub-Bandage Pressure, when using long stretch bandages. This has not been finalized by the scientific fraternity in our opinion, but is probably acceptable for practical purposes.
Short Stretch
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Long Stretch
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Zinc Paste
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Four Layer System
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SUPPORT BANDAGES
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RETENTION BANDAGES
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EDUCATION & INFORMATION
Internationally the classification of bandages has been somewhat confusing. Buyers have to take the responsibility, when ordering bandages, but often do not understand bandaging. The following classifications could be of help:
Bandages are classified by:
Function:
Retention – These bandages have a holding function. Important issues here would be:
• Will it hold itself in place
• Absorbtion capabilities (of bodily fluids)
• Ease of application – extensibility
• Fabric
Support – These give support to a limb. Important issues would be:
• Holding capabilities. You don’t want a support bandages to fall off within minutes.
• Stretch. Support bandages are short stretch and has a short lock-out. Most support bandages will give some measure of compression.
Compression:
–Type 3a (Light compression, up to 20mmHg)
–Type 3b (20 to 30mmHg)
–Type 3c (30 to 40mmHg)
–Type 3d (40 to 50mmHg)
Or:
Non-adhesive,
Adhesive (adheres to skin) or
Cohesive (sticks only onto itself not to skin)
Or:
Short Stretch (<70% of it’s length),
Medium Stretch (70-140% of it’s length),
Long Stretch (>140%)
Some people will only talk in terms of :
Short stretch (0-100% of it’s length)
Long stretch (>100% of it’s length)
Or:
Cotton elastic bandage (CEB) - 100% cotton bandage which achieves elasticity from the special weave. Tends to lose it’s elasticity relatively quickly, but retains up to 80% after washing it.
Permanent elastic bandage (PEB) - Contains cotton and variable percentages of polyamide, viscose, polyurethanes and other synthetic polymers. Retains elasticity much more effective. Typically used in specialized compression bandaging.
Or:
Woven – Most of above falls into this group
Non-woven – Usually of polyester/elasthane mix, tearable, long stretch, non-reusable. Cheap to manufacture.
Bandaging techniques becomes important once a bandage is used with some form of sub-bandage pressure. The basic techniques are:
Spiral(Fig A) – The bandage is applied from most distal aspect of limb with either 50% or 66% overlap. A 50% overlap means a double layer and a 66% overlap, three layers. Variations of this technique is the St Charles Technique or Combined Spiral & St Charles.
Fig-8 – Very few understand the implications of using a fig-8 compression bandage. With Fig-8 bandaging one has 4-layers of bandage which implies double the pressure compared to using a spiral method at 50% overlap. Fig-8 bandaging should be used with care only by those with experience in bandaging. No scientific proof exists to state the superiority of this method, although it has been used for many years.
Bandages are classified by:
Function:
Retention – These bandages have a holding function. Important issues here would be:
• Will it hold itself in place
• Absorbtion capabilities (of bodily fluids)
• Ease of application – extensibility
• Fabric
Support – These give support to a limb. Important issues would be:
• Holding capabilities. You don’t want a support bandages to fall off within minutes.
• Stretch. Support bandages are short stretch and has a short lock-out. Most support bandages will give some measure of compression.
Compression:
–Type 3a (Light compression, up to 20mmHg)
–Type 3b (20 to 30mmHg)
–Type 3c (30 to 40mmHg)
–Type 3d (40 to 50mmHg)
Or:
Non-adhesive,
Adhesive (adheres to skin) or
Cohesive (sticks only onto itself not to skin)
Or:
Short Stretch (<70% of it’s length),
Medium Stretch (70-140% of it’s length),
Long Stretch (>140%)
Some people will only talk in terms of :
Short stretch (0-100% of it’s length)
Long stretch (>100% of it’s length)
Or:
Cotton elastic bandage (CEB) - 100% cotton bandage which achieves elasticity from the special weave. Tends to lose it’s elasticity relatively quickly, but retains up to 80% after washing it.
Permanent elastic bandage (PEB) - Contains cotton and variable percentages of polyamide, viscose, polyurethanes and other synthetic polymers. Retains elasticity much more effective. Typically used in specialized compression bandaging.
Or:
Woven – Most of above falls into this group
Non-woven – Usually of polyester/elasthane mix, tearable, long stretch, non-reusable. Cheap to manufacture.
BANDAGING TECHNIQUES
Bandaging techniques becomes important once a bandage is used with some form of sub-bandage pressure. The basic techniques are:
Spiral(Fig A) – The bandage is applied from most distal aspect of limb with either 50% or 66% overlap. A 50% overlap means a double layer and a 66% overlap, three layers. Variations of this technique is the St Charles Technique or Combined Spiral & St Charles.
Fig-8 – Very few understand the implications of using a fig-8 compression bandage. With Fig-8 bandaging one has 4-layers of bandage which implies double the pressure compared to using a spiral method at 50% overlap. Fig-8 bandaging should be used with care only by those with experience in bandaging. No scientific proof exists to state the superiority of this method, although it has been used for many years.
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