Use Of Compression Therapy Research Articles

Compression therapy in patients with venous leg ulcers: a best practice implementation project.

Venous leg ulcers are the most common ulcerations of the lower extremities. Compression is the most important consideration and the gold standard treatment for venous leg ulcers. This implementation project aimed to promote best practices in the management of venous leg ulcers in a rural community-care setting. This project was guided by the JBI Evidence Implementation Framework, which is grounded in audit and feedback processes, along with a structured approach to identifying and managing barriers to compliance with recommended best practices. Compliance with best practices increased for most audit criteria. The use of compression therapy increased from 16.7% to 60%, documentation increased from 6.7% to 50%, replacement of compression bandages from 6.7% to 60%, patient education from 0% to 46.7%, and holistic assessment from 0% to 13%. However, compliance for individualized interventions to promote adherence remained at 0%. This project succeeded in introducing compression therapy as a basic treatment for venous ulcers. However, continued improvement in the care for venous ulcers and guarantee of long-term implementation of evidence are necessary. http://links.lww.com/IJEBH/A212.

Time-Dependent Changes of Extremity Volume and Tissue Alterations in Swollen Arms Caused by Taxanes.

Background: We aimed to determine the course of arm swelling caused by the use of taxanes and to identify valid predictors of persistent swelling. Methods and Results: A total of 15 patients with unilateral arm swelling that developed during the course, or within 3 months after termination, of postoperative taxane-based chemotherapy were included in the present study. The patients attended follow-up appointments every 3-6 months for 24 months after their initial visit. Their arm circumference was measured at each follow-up appointment, while ultrasonography of the skin and subcutaneous tissues was performed at the 0-, 6-, 12-, and 24-month follow-ups. Of the 15 patients, 12 (80%) saw their taxane-induced arm swelling resolved within a median of 12 months (range, 3-29 months) after their final taxane administration. Of the 12 patients whose swelling resolved, 9 did not use compression sleeves; however, their course of resolution did not differ from the other 3 patients who regularly used compression sleeves. In the three patients with persistent swelling, the excess subcutaneous thickness in the medial upper arm (median, 283%) was significantly greater than that in the patients whose swelling resolved (120%; p < 0.05) during their initial visits. Conclusions: Of the 15 patients included in the present study, 80% saw their taxane-induced arm swelling resolve within a median of 12 months after their final taxane administration, independent of the use of compression therapy. Persistent swelling may be predicted during the initial visit based on subcutaneous thickening of the medial upper arm.

Use of compression therapy for cellulitis.

Cellulitis is a common infection, especially among the elderly, and compression therapy is often recommended to reduce acute oedema and pain. A previous study showed that compression therapy led to a lower incidence of recurrent cellulitis in lower extremities in patients with chronic oedema. The aim of this study was to describe clinical characteristics of patients with cellulitis. This was a retrospective descriptive study reviewing medical records and medicine registrations in patients ≥ 18 years with cellulitis. A total of 104 patients were hospitalised with cellulitis; 13 were excluded. The median age was 75 years (range: 33-103 years), 64% > 70 years. The median admission time was five days (range: 1-24 days). Median antibiotic treatment duration was 11 days (range: 4-56 days). A total of 45% were current or former smokers, 40% were overweight, 48% had preexisting chronic oedema of the affected area, 90% had become infected in the lower extremities and 19% were readmitted within six months. A total of 51% had a new antibiotic treatment prescribed after being discharged, and 66% received compression therapy. Cellulitis frequently affects older patients, especially smokers, people with overweight and chronic lymphoedema. In all, 66% were treated with compression therapy that did not have a clear effect on their readmission rate, probably because the patients receiving compression therapy had a more severe infection complicated by severe oedema and a higher risk of reinfection. An increased focus on the use of compression therapy in conjunction with health preventive interventions may have a positive impact on the relapse rate. None. Not relevant.

Risk factors for recanalization of truncal veins following endoluminal ablation

BackgroundRecanalization of target veins after treatment of superficial venous incompetence has clinical implications and may depend on the type of intervention. The aim of this study was to evaluate patient and procedural factors associated with truncal vein recanalization in a large study cohort using the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) Varicose Vein Registry. MethodsWe performed a retrospective review using the VQI Varicose Vein Registry from 2014 to 2018. We evaluated all procedures performed for truncal venous insufficiency. Demographic data and information about treatment modality were collected. Patients were separated into recanalization and nonrecanalization groups based on the status of the treated vein at follow-up ultrasound examination. The vein was only considered recanalized if the VQI noted complete recanalization of the target vein. Univariate and multivariate comparisons were performed as appropriate. ResultsA total of 10,604 procedures were performed in 7403 patients. The average age was 55.9 years and 70.3% of the patients were female. Patients with recanalization were more likely to have a history of phlebitis (P < .001) and had a higher mean body mass index (30.5 vs 32., kg/m2 ; P = .006) compared with those without recanalization. There was no difference in the use of compression therapy, anticoagulation, deep venous reflux, number of pregnancies, prior deep vein thrombosis, Venous Clinical Severity Score, and clinical-etiology-anatomy-pathophysiology between patients with and without recanalization. The number of truncal veins treated per procedure was higher in the recanalization group compared with the nonrecanalization group (2.36 vs 1.88; P = .001). After multivariate logistic regression, laser ablation was associated with higher rate of recanalization compared with radiofrequency ablation (P = .017). ConclusionsThis study is the first to use VQI based data to describe risk factors for recanalization following treatment of truncal venous reflux. The use of laser ablation for truncal veins is associated with a higher risk for recanalization compared with radiofrequency ablation. Obesity, prior phlebitis, and number of veins treated were independently associated with increased rate of recanalization.

The role of compression therapy after endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) - review.

&lt;b&gt;&lt;br&gt;Introduction:&lt;/b&gt; Chronic venous disease (CVD) is a rising problem in western countries. There are several stages of CVD that can be treated with different ways. One of the methods of treating varicosity, C2 stage of CVD, is still developing endovenous laser ablation (EVLA). This method is popular due to its short operation time, less bleeding, quick recovery and no surgical scars. The compression therapy in form of compression stockings has been widely used as a conservative treatment of early stage CVD and it&apos;s also used after EVLA. However there are no strong recommendations towards using compression therapy after this kind of surgery.&lt;/br&gt; &lt;b&gt;&lt;br&gt;Aim and Method:&lt;/b&gt; This paper is aimed to review existing knowledge about compression therapy benefits and its recommended time period after EVLA. Search engines used in review: Pubmed and Cochrane.&lt;/br&gt; &lt;b&gt;&lt;br&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; Studies focusing on the compression therapy after EVLA of varicose veins have questioned the prolonged use of compression therapy as it brings no additional benefits and might be difficult for patients to adhere. The existing studies recommended the time period no greater than 1-2 weeks. There are no significant changes in reoccurrence rate and return to normal activities between compression and non-compression group. It is proven that compression therapy significantly reduces the postoperative pain and consumption of analgesics.&lt;/br&gt; &lt;b&gt;&lt;br&gt;Discussion:&lt;/b&gt; Compression therapy seems as a safe option for low pain management. There is a need for further research involving the impact of the compression therapy after EVLA, especially in group of low energy delivered settings as the results of treatment are promising.&lt;/br&gt.

Medical device-related pressure injury from compression therapy

The use of compression therapy is known to be effective in the management of patients with venous leg ulceration and is commonly recommended as a first-line treatment. A rare but known complication of compression therapy is pressure damage to the limb, also referred to as bandage damage, which should be categorised as a medical device-related pressure injury. Patients should receive a comprehensive, holistic assessment before any compression therapy is applied. Risk factors for compression therapy injury include peripheral arterial disease, older age, fragile skin, pronounced bony prominences or tendons, calf atrophy, foot drop, neuropathy/absent sensation, limited movement, cognitive impairment and receiving end of life care. Risks can be mitigated through a variety of approaches, and practitioners should be aware that these can change depending on the patient's condition. A community improvement initiative, illustrated with a case study, introduced a clinical pathway that can facilitate the identification and management of patients who are at risk of developing pressure injuries as a result of compression therapy.

Compression therapy for NHS inpatients with leg ulcers: a literature review.

Leg ulcers are common, distressing and painful for patients, and are a significant financial burden to healthcare providers. Compression therapy is the mainstay of treatment for venous leg ulceration. Several studies have evaluated leg ulcer management and compression therapy in the community. However, little is known about the prevalence of leg ulceration and use of compression therapy in acute hospitals. The aim of this study was to explore the published literature on the use of compression therapy for inpatients with leg ulcers in UK National Health Service hospital settings. A literature search was undertaken to identify published papers reporting on inpatient leg ulcer populations and the use of compression therapy in hospitals using the following databases: CINAHL, MEDLINE Complete, Embase and PubMed. The literature review identified 364 articles, of which three met the eligibility criteria. These studies reported on the prevalence of leg ulceration, the number of Doppler assessments conducted for patients and the use of compression therapy. This review confirmed a lack of information on the prevalence of hospital inpatients with leg ulcers, and identified the need to conduct prevalence audits, establish leg ulcer services to streamline inpatient leg ulcer care and provide staff and patient education programmes.

Compression therapy in dermatology.

Compression therapy is a conservative therapy that can be used in many patients with dermatological conditions, especially those associated with edema. In addition to its well-established use in venous and lymphatic disorders, there is increasing evidence that compression therapy supports the healing of inflammatory dermatoses. The presence of edema, regardless of its etiology, is an indication for the use of compression therapy. Nowadays, a variety of materials and treatment options are available for compression therapy, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Often, compression therapy with low resting pressures is sufficient for effective therapy and is better tolerated by patients. The main contraindications to compression therapy are advanced peripheral arterial disease and decompensated heart failure. Individual factors and economic considerations should be taken into account when deciding on compression therapy with the patient. Patient self-management should be encouraged whenever possible. This requires education and support tools.

Benefits of Combined Upper Body Exercise and Compression Therapy for Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema: A Systematic Review

Purpose: This systematic review aimed to examine the benefit of combined upper body exercise and compression therapy for breast cancer related lymphedema. Method: Electronic searches were performed in Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, and PEDRO. We included randomized and controlled clinical trials that examined the effect of upper body exercise with use of compression therapy on arm lymphedema. Where data were available, effect sizes were calculated. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. The quality of evidence was rated using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). Results: Of 444 studies, 11 met all inclusion criteria. Two cross-over trials examined single bouts of upper body exercise with or without compression, three intervention trials examined non-resisted upper body exercise and compression, and six intervention trials examined upper body resistance exercise and compression. Only two studies reported statistically significant benefit from the combined intervention for arm lymphedema volume. Seven studies provided adequate data to allow for calculation of effect size; however, heterogeneity precluded pooling of data. The quality of evidence was moderate in intervention trials comparing combined upper body exercise and compression to standard care ( n = 1) or to exercise alone ( n = 1). For all other trials the grade of evidence was low, with quality ratings downgraded due to small sample sizes and/or high or unclear risk of bias. Conclusions: No clear conclusions could be made regarding the benefit of combined upper body exercise and compression for breast cancer related lymphedema. Further high-quality trials are warranted.

Barriers and facilitators to use of compression therapy by people with venous leg ulcers: A qualitative exploration.

To explore barriers to, and facilitators of, adherence to compression therapy, from the perspective of people with venous leg ulcers. An interpretive, qualitative, descriptive study involving interviews with patients. Participants were purposively sampled from respondents to a survey exploring attitudes to compression therapy in people with venous leg ulcers. Sampling continued until data saturation: 25 interviews between December 2019 and July 2020. Inductive thematic analysis of interview transcripts was undertaken to create a framework for the data, followed by deductive analysis informed by the Common-Sense Model of Self-Regulation. A range of knowledge and understanding about the cause of venous leg ulcers and the mechanisms of compression therapy was demonstrated, which was not particularly related to adherence. Participants talked about their experience with different compression methods and their concerns about the length of time healing could take. They also spoke about aspects of the organization of services which affected their care. Identifying specific, individual barriers/facilitators to compression therapy is not simple, rather factors combine to make adherence more or less likely or possible. There was no clear relationship between an understanding of the cause of VLUs or the mechanism of compression therapy and adherence; different compression therapies presented different challenges for patients; unintentional non-adherence was frequently mentioned; and the organization of services could impact on adherence. Ways in which people could be supported to adhere to compression therapy are indicated. Implications for practice include issues relating to communication with patients; taking into account patients' lifestyles and ensuring that they know about useful 'aids'; providing services that are accessible and provide continuity of appropriately trained staff; minimizing unintentional non-adherence; and acknowledging that healthcare professionals will always need to support/advise those who cannot tolerate compression. Compression therapy is a cost-effective, evidence-based treatment for venous leg ulcers. However, there is evidence that patients do not always adhere to this therapy and there is limited research investigating reasons why patients do not wear compression. The study found no clear relationship between an understanding of the cause of VLUs or the mechanism of compression therapy and adherence; that different compression therapies presented different challenges for patients; that unintentional non-adherence was frequently mentioned and that the organization of services could impact on adherence. Attending to these findings offers the opportunity to increase the proportion of people undergoing appropriate compression therapy and achieving complete wound healing, the main outcome desired by this group. A patient representative sits on the Study Steering Group, contributing to the work from developing the study protocol and interview schedule to interpretation and discussion of findings. Members of a Wounds Research Patient and Public Involvement Forum were consulted about interview questions.

Getting Ready for Wound Certification: Factors Impeding Wound Healing.

Getting Ready for Wound Certification: Factors Impeding Wound Healing.

What promotes or prevents greater use of appropriate compression in people with venous leg ulcers? A qualitative interview study with nurses in the north of England using the Theoretical Domains Framework

ObjectivesTo investigate factors that promote and prevent the use of compression therapy in people with venous leg ulcers.DesignQualitative interview study with nurses using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF).SettingThree National Health...

Effect of Compression Therapy in the Treatment of Tibial Stress Syndrome in Military Service Members.

Tibial stress syndrome (TSS) is an overuse injury of the lower extremities. There is a high incidence rate of TSS among military recruits. Compression therapy is used to treat a wide array of musculoskeletal injuries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of compression therapy as a treatment for TSS in military service members. A parallel randomized study design was utilized. Military members diagnosed with TSS were assigned to either a relative rest group or compression garment group. Both groups started the study with 2 weeks of lower extremity rest followed by a graduated running program during the next 6 weeks. The compression garment group additionally wore a shin splints compression wrap during the waking hours of the first 2 weeks and during activity only for the next 6 weeks. Feelings of pain, TSS symptoms, and the ability to run 2 miles pain free were assessed at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks into the study. Feelings of pain and TSS symptoms decreased during the 8-week study in both groups (P < .05), but these changes were not significantly different between groups (P > .05). The proportion of participants who were able to run 2 miles pain free was significantly different (P < .05) between the 2 groups at the 8-week time point with the compression garment group having a significantly increased ability to complete the run without pain. Although perceptions of pain at rest were not different between groups, the functional ability of running 2 miles pain free was significantly improved in the compression garment group. These findings suggest that there is a moderate benefit to using compression therapy as an adjunct treatment for TSS, promoting a return to training for military service members.

A point prevalence audit of inpatients with leg ulcers eligible for compression therapy in a large university NHS hospital.

Compression therapy is the mainstay of treatment for venous leg ulceration. Several studies have evaluated leg ulcer management and compression in the community. However, little is known about the leg ulcer population and use of compression therapy in the hospital setting, where it is not often part of inpatient care. This study aimed to evaluate the proportion of inpatients with leg ulceration eligible for compression therapy. A point prevalence audit was undertaken using three methods: patient electronic live report; a leg ulcer audit form; and an electronic record search. The following data were retrieved: patient age, sex, primary reason for admission, diabetes, mobility status, history of dementia, Clinical Frailty Scale score and presence of oedema. Ankle-brachial pressure index was measured to determine patients' eligibility for compression therapy. The audit identified 80/931 (8.5%) inpatients as having confirmed, active leg ulceration. A total of 36/80 (45%) inpatients were assessed for eligibility for compression, of whom 25/36 (69.4%) were eligible for full compression, 2/36 (5.6%) reduced compression and 9/36 (25%) were not eligible for compression therapy. The audit demonstrated that a significant proportion of hospital inpatients with leg ulcers were eligible for compression therapy and that this patient population were heterogenous in terms of comorbidity profile, mobility, frailty and dementia, among other factors. Further research is required to explore the most feasible and effective compression options for inpatients with leg ulcers.

A Strategy to Enable Rapid Healing and Prevent Recurrence of Venous Ulcers

Venous ulcers are often intractable. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the effectiveness of endovenous ablation, compression therapy, moist wound healing, and skin care in the management of venous ulcers. Twenty-eight consecutive patients (10 male, 18 female; mean age, 70.1 years) with Clinical-Etiology-Anatomy-Pathophysiology (CEAP) class C6 venous ulcer underwent endovenous ablation between December 2014 and August 2020. The main treatment strategies were radiofrequency ablation and varicectomy (including stab avulsion of incompetent perforating veins), use of compression therapy until complete healing was achieved, moist wound healing (washing the ulcer site and covering it with dressings twice daily), and skin care, taking into consideration the balance of the microbiome. Active venous leg ulcers (CEAP class C6) were diagnosed in 36 patients at the first visit. In 7 of these patients, compression therapy and use of strategies to promote moist wound healing resulted in ulcer healing by the day of the planned surgery. One patient was unable to quit smoking and, therefore, could not undergo surgery. After excluding these 8 patients, the authors analyzed the data from 28 patients who underwent endovenous ablation. The mean surgical time was 38.9 minutes, and the mean number of stab avulsion incision sites was 9.7. All ulcers healed within a median of 55.5 days (range, 13-365 days). Ulcer healing was achieved by 1 year in all 28 patients (100%). No ulceration recurred as of the final follow-up (median, 24.5 months [range, 3-66 months]). Endovenous ablation, adequate varicectomy (stab avulsion [maximum number of sites in 1 patient, 43]), compression therapy, moist wound healing, and skin care are effective in treating and preventing recurrence of venous ulcers.

Socioeconomic Status and Clinical Stage of Patients Presenting for Treatment of Chronic Venous Disease

The association between socioeconomic status (SES) and chronic venous insufficiency has not been rigorously studied. This study aimed to determine the influence of SES on the clinical stage of patients presenting for chronic venous disease therapy. We performed a retrospective study of a prospectively collected data from the Vascular Quality Initiative Varicose Vein Registry at our tertiary referral center. Medical records of patients who underwent therapy for chronic venous disease between January 2015 and June 2019 were queried. SES was quantified using the neighborhood deprivation index (NDI), which summarizes 8 domains of socioeconomic deprivation and is based on census tract data derived from the patients' addresses at the time of the treatment. High NDI scores correspond with lower SES. The association between SES and severity of vein disease at presentation was assessed with bivariate analysis of variance and linear regression analysis. A total of 449 patients with complete SES and clinical-etiology-anatomy-pathophysiology (CEAP) class data were included in the study. The mean age was 58 years, 67% were female, and 60% were White. CEAP classes were distributed as follows C2, 22%; C3, 50%; C4, 15%; C5, 5%; and C6, 8%. Patients with lower SES (higher NDI score) tended to have a higher CEAP class at presentation (P < 0.05). SES was not associated with history of deep venous thrombosis, use of compression therapy, or venous clinical severity score. At our institution, patients with more advanced venous disease tended to belong to a lower SES group. This may reflect that patient with a lower SES have a longer time to presentation due to delay in seeking medical help for venous disease.

Treating chronic oedema of the lower limb using circular knit garments: how garment characteristics affect outcomes.

The use of compression therapy to treat chronic oedema of the lower limbs can be a challenge, especially when this is undertaken by clinicians who have limited experience and knowledge of the theoretical principles which underpin its use in clinical practice. This articles aims to discuss the reasoning which underpins the use of compression hosiery in the management of lymphoedema and how this understanding can improve treatment outcomes and reduce the burden of disease on patients and clinical resources.

ПРИМЕНЕНИЕ КОМПРЕССИОННОЙ ТЕРАПИИ ПАЦИЕНТАМИ С ВАРИКОЗНОЙ БОЛЕЗНЬЮ НИЖНИХ КОНЕЧНОСТЕЙ

Objective. To study the implementation of medical recommendations regarding the use of compression therapy in patients with varicose veins of the lower extremities. Methods. A prospective comparative study, Patients Commitment to Compression Therapy (POMP), was conducted with the participation of phlebologist-surgeons who treat patients with chronic venous diseases in Minsk, Vitebsk, and Gomel. During 5 weeks each of the phlebologists included in the study patients with varicose veins who sought advice and needed compression therapy. 30-35 days after the consultation of the surgeon-phlebologist, an outsourcing call center conducted a telephone survey of patients in order to obtain information about the specifics of fulfilling medical recommendations. Results. The registration data base of the study contained individual data on 394 patients with varicose veins (C1-C6) who received recommendations to use compression therapy. After 30-35 days, 302 patients (aged 43, 18-84 (Me, IQR)) were available for telephone survey. There were 58 men (19.2%), 244 women (80.8%). Among them, class C1 was registered in 39 (12.9%), C2 - in 113 (37.4%), C3 - in 122 (40.4%), C4 - in 25 (8.3%), C5 - in 1 (0.3%), C6 - in 2 (0.7%) patients. It was found that 245 (81.5%) of the respondents either already had compression hosiery at the time of the consultation, or purchased it within 30 days. 228 (75.2%) respondents reported compliance with the recommendations. Patients who had already experience with compression therapy and patients with the history of venous thromboembolism showed higher commitment to compression therapy (p&lt;0.001). There were no significant differences in the compliance of patients with different levels of education and professional characteristics. Conclusion. A high commitment of patients to compression therapy was established 1 month after receiving recommendations. To obtain more information about patient compliance, it is necessary to enlarge the follow-up period. What this paper adds In a prospective multicenter study a high commitment (75.2%) to compression therapy for patients with varicose veins was firstly defined 1 month after the recommendations made by a phlebologist to use it.

Clinical guidelines for sclerotherapy: implementation in actual practice

Introduction. The simplicity of the sclerotherapy procedure, its high efficiency and low cost along with the possibility of performing the procedure on an outpatient basis stimulate the widespread use of the method.Objective of the study. Examine the current state of actual clinical practice regarding the treatment of patients with varicose veins using the sclerotherapy procedure.Materials and methods. An anonymous survey of 162 doctors, members of the professional community of specialists engaged in the treatment of venous diseases was performed. It comprised 15 questions concerning the features of the sclerotherapy procedure and following up of the patients.Results and discussion. The lack of clear-cut standardization for sclerotherapy in the regulatory documents contributes to the significant heterogeneity in the approaches of specialists to the performance of the procedure. The views on the use of sclerotherapy to remove perineal varicose veins (routinely performed only by 25.3% of physicians) and the upper extremity veins (less than 4%) turned out to be controversial. There were significant differences in the therapeutic approaches to the administration of anticoagulants by the patients (refusal in the procedure – 26.3% of respondents, discontinuation of drugs during sclerotherapy – 7.5%). Approximately a third of the respondents regularly exceed recommended 10 ml-volume of foam per session, there is no consensus on the choice of the needle diameter, drug concentration even in the similar clinical situations. About half of them have experience in using glucose as the sclerosant, every third – in using a transcutaneous laser, 5.6% – in using the mechanochemical obliteration techniques that are not currently certified in the Russian Federation. The use of compression therapy after sclerotherapy is not standardized; the regulatory documents provide contradictory durations of its use, which is due to the weakness of clinical research data on this issue. Up to 99% of physicians observe pigmentation, 83.2% – development of secondary telangiectasias and 60.2% – superficial necrosis in their practice. These circumstances arouse legal suspicion in relation to this type of treatment and the legal vulnerability of physicians. At the same time, physicians need to be more informed about the current requirements for some issues.Conclusion. The current legislation regulating the practical aspects of the sclerotherapy considers it largely through the lens of medicine, ignoring a significant cosmetic component. It is necessary to work out the provisions describing the specifics of cosmetic manipulations performed by the phlebologists, and the need for more detailed familiarization with the regular updates of the guidelines.

Use of compression therapy to treat lower limb wounds across Europe: a scoping review protocol.

IntroductionPoor lower wound care is an avoidable patient harm. Compression therapy is an effective way of treating non-ischaemic lower limbs wounds, but it is not always used appropriately. There are many guidelines which set out how compression therapy should be used, but there is dearth of evidence about how it is actually used at a population level across Europe.AimThe aim of this scoping review is to map the evidence published in English relating to the use of compression therapy to treat lower limb wounds across Europe.MethodsThis scoping review will be conducted in line with the Joanna Briggs Institute and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Protocols and Scoping Reviews guidance. A search for relevant publications will be conducted on variety of databases and key websites in order to identify a comprehensive range of relevant literature. Peer reviewed empirical papers, theoretical papers and other publications in English relating to the use of compression therapy across Europe will be considered for inclusion.Ethics and disseminationEthical and research governance for this scoping review is not required because we will only gather secondary data. Our results will be disseminated to the widest possible audience through an open access paper in a peer reviewed international journal, conference presentations and a plain English summary. The results of this scoping review will be used by a panel of Key Opinion Leaders from across Europe to develop a driver diagram to underpin subsequent lower limb wound care improvement efforts.