Numerical Approach for the Assessment of Pressure Generated by Elastic Compression Bandage.

Abstract

Compression of the lower leg by bandages is a common treatment for the advanced stages of some venous or lymphatic pathologies. The outcomes of this treatment directly result from the pressure generated onto the limb. Various bandage configurations are proposed by manufacturers: the study of these configurations requires the development of reliable methods to predict pressure distribution applied by compression bandages. Currently, clinicians and manufacturers have no dedicated tools to predict bandage pressure generation. A numerical simulation approach is presented in this work, which includes patient-specific leg geometry and bandage. This model provides the complete pressure distribution over the leg. The results were compared to experimental pressure measurements and pressure values computed with Laplace's law. Using an appropriate surrogate model, this study demonstrated that such simulation is appropriate to account for phenomena which are neglected in Laplace's law, like geometry changes due to bandage application.