Flexitouch Compression System for Venous Stasis Ulcer

Background:

Overview of venous stasis ulcers (1-3): Venous stasis ulceration is a common complication of venous insufficiency in the United States. Venous stasis ulcers (VSU) are associated with very significant morbidity, including patient disability, moderate to severe pain, and frequent leg infections. There is also a large cost associated with the medical care needed for this condition and the inability of patients to work. In some patients, this condition can be life- or limb-threatening.

Current standard of care for VSU: It is widely accepted that VSU should be treated by an individualized program of compression wrapping therapy (3-5). This therapy is designed to counteract the presumed pathophysiology of VSU, which develop as a result of valvular reflux and venous hypertension. However, the efficacy of compression therapy alone is suboptimal, with healing rates of roughly 34% reported after 12 weeks of therapy (6). Various adjunctive treatments have been studied, including artificial skin grafts (6-8). However, none of these adjunctive modalities have become widely accepted for the treatment of VSU.

Potential role of compression pumps: Intermittent sequential compression pumps are widely used as an adjunctive modality in the treatment of VSU. These pumps use high compression and are expensive, but this expense may be outweighed by improved healing of VSU. The use of compression pumps is consistent with the pathophysiology of VSU, but data regarding the efficacy of such therapy is scarce. To date, no study has adequately assessed the efficacy of compression pump therapy in the treatment of VSU (9).

Flexitouch System: The Flexitouch System was designed by a therapist trained in manual lymphatic drainage therapy and is produced by Tactile Systems Technology, Inc. The Flexitouch System was designed to simulate MLD techniques and is intended for home use during the self-management phase of CDT. MLD is one (of four) component(s) of Complete Decongestive Therapy, considered the "Gold Standard" for treatment of lymphedema. MLD is a gentle, manual technique producing very light directional pressure/stretch on the skin with manipulation of healthy lymph nodes and vessels. The effects of properly applied MLD include increased intake of lymphatic loads into the lymphatic system, increased lymphangiomotoricity, increased volume of transported lymph fluid, increased venous return in the superficial venous system, promotion of parasympathetic response and pain control. Treatment is always initiated at the trunk segments, with decongestion of proximal areas, prior to addressing the involved extremity (to clear central areas and promote decongestion of more distal areas). The extremity is then treated in segments, starting with the proximal segments and then progressing from distal to proximal regions. The Flexitouch® System is not intended to replace the intensive phase of CDT. However, it follows the principles of MLD in many ways. Flexitouch system provides limb treatment, but in addition, it addresses trunk congestion. The lower extremity garment set consists of two garments, one garment fits over the affected lower extremity and the other fits over the lower abdomen/trunk. Each garment is made up of multiple inflatable chambers within a flexible, stretchable fabric. The treatment consists of a 2-phase program. As in MLD, the preparation phase begins the treatment starting at the inguinal quadrant. Each curved trunk chamber inflates and deflates sequentially to facilitate the movement of edema fluid into the systemic circulation. The cycle is repeated several times. The inflation/deflation cycle is then repeated in each limb region from the knee to the groin, from the ankle to the knee, and finally from the toes to the ankle. The second phase, drainage, begins the sequential inflation/deflation cycle at the toes and continues moving up the leg to the quadrant of the trunk to facilitate the movement of edema fluid from the inguinal quadrant into the system circulation.

Choice of compression pump device for study of VSU treatment: A variety of inflatable compression pumps are available, but there are no data to help choose among these devices (9). No compression device is accepted as a standard of care for VSU. Flexitouch system differs from standard (intermittent sequential) compression pumps in significant ways. As described above, Flexitouch system is unique as a compression device, because it provides not only sequential limb compression, but also trunk compression. Flexitouch system's two-phase program (preparation and drainage) also makes it different from other compression devices. The fact that the system was created for lymphedema may be an advantage in the treatment of VSU, because many authors (10;11) believe that secondary lymphedema plays an important role among VSU patients.

Study Outline:

Patient enrollment procedure

- An approved consent form and authorization permitting release of personal health information must be signed by the patient or guardian.

- All eligibility requirements indicated in Section 3.0 must be satisfied.

- The patient must be registered by calling the study coordinator Lisa Rudman, at Allegheny General Hospital (412-359-4325).

General treatment plan: After enrollment, all patients will be seen once per week for a 12-week period for standard compression wrapping. At each visit, treatment and assessment will be undertaken as described below. The Flexitouch group only will use the Flexitouch System both at home (once daily) and in-clinic (once per week).

Essential elements of treatment and assessment:

Applicable to ALL patients

- The patients will be seen at the wound center one(1) times per week for 12 weeks.

- Patients will receive compression wrapping as standard of care therapy. The precise amount of compression will be individualized according to patient tolerance using 3M Coban 2 layer Compression System.

- The wound area will be measured and photographed weekly, using wound tracing and planimetry software.

- The limb volume will be measured weekly, using available software (NetHealth, Pittsburgh PA).

- The presence or absence of wound infection will be assessed. The need for wound debridement will be recorded.

- The wound will be scored as to whether or not it has healed. If the wound healed at a previous visit, the presence of recurrent ulceration will be assessed.

- The occurrence of treatment failure will be recorded (see section 7d).

- Comprehensive standard wound care treatment including gentle wound cleansing with saline solution at each visit, maintaining moisture balance in the wound and periwound with appropriate dressings (alginate, foam, hydrogel or hydrocolloid), reminding subjects of the importance of proper nutrition, leg elevation at rest and activity, including frequent ambulation and ankle ROM exercises through the day.

Additional steps applicable to patients randomized to Flexitouch arm:

- Patients will be provided a home Flexitouch unit. They will be given instructions to use the Flexitouch system on a once daily basis. They will not need remove the compression wrap for the home therapy.

- In addition to the home use, at each clinic visit, the patient's trunk and affected limb will be treated for 60 minutes with the Flexitouch system.

- The patient will be asked to indicate their level of comfort with the in-clinic Flexitouch session (scale of 0 to 5; 0 = very comfortable, 5 = very uncomfortable).