Introduction: Venous disease impairs the quality of life, necessitates time off work and causes venous ulcers. The focus of this thesis is to explore strategies to prevent chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and venous ulceration. Aims 1. To identify a population at risk of developing venous ulcers 2. To study the pressure profile required by elastic stockings to halve transit venous time 3. To explore the role of compression following ankle fracture Methods: Data was collected from 231 patients with venous ulcers and age and sex matched 210 controls to identify risk factors for venous ulceration. Univariate and multivariate analysis of potential risk factors was undertaken to identify those that independently predict this risk. After identifying the population at risk, prophylactic strategies were developed. The effect of Engineered Compression Stockings (ECS) delivering 15mmHg, 25mmHg and 35mmHg pressure at the ankle on the calf venous transit time and volume was measured to determine the ideal pressure profile required to halve transit venous time, which should be appropriate for DVT prophylaxis. A dorsal foot vein was cannulated in 15 healthy volunteers with no venous disease. The transit time (secs) for ultrasound contrast from a foot vein to the popliteal vein was measured using duplex ultrasound. Calf volumes were recorded by water displacement. ECS delivering 25mmHg of pressure around the ankle were compared with no compression in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in 90 patients within 72 hours of ankle fracture. Patients were randomised to either i) ECS and air-cast boot or ii) a liner and air-cast boot and were followed at 2, 4, 8, 12 weeks and 6 months. The primary outcome was functional recovery measured using the Olerud Molander Ankle Score (OMAS). Secondary outcomes were i) The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Score (AOFAS), ii) SF12v2 Quality of Life score (QoL), iii) pain, and iv) frequency of DVT. Results The risk factors significantly associated with venous ulceration on multivariate analysis included a history of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), phlebitis, hip replacement, poor mobility, weight/kg>100Kg, varicose veins (VV), family history of VV and weight (kg) between 75-100kg. A simple diagnostic scoring system was derived from this regression analysis with scores of . 3 predicting a 6.7% annual risk and of < 1 a 0.6% risk. Mean transit time without compression was 35, 32 and 33 secs while standing, sitting and lying. Transit time was consistently halved by ECS delivering 25mmHg to 14, 13 and 14 secs respectively (p<0.001). Mean leg volume whilst standing was reduced significantly from 3447ml with no ECS to 3259ml, 3161ml and 3067ml with ECS applying 15, 25 and 35mmHg respectively (p<0.001). ECS in ankle fracture patients reduced ankle swelling at all time points and significantly improved mean OMAS score at six months to 98 compared with 67 for the liner (p<0.001). AOFAS and SF12v2 scores were also significantly improved (p<0.001, p= 0.016). Of 86 patients with duplex imaging at four weeks, only five (12%) of the 43 ECS patients had a DVT compared with 10 (23%) of the 43 controls (p= 0.26). Conclusions: The risk score for venous ulcers will allow us to undertake RCTs on the prevention of leg ulceration. The pressure profile required to halve transit venous time is 25mmHg. The frequency of asymptomatic DVT following ankle fracture is sufficient to justify prophylaxis. Compression has a potential role in the management of ankle fractures by improving functional outcome and QoL. These studies facilitate research into the prevention of venous disease.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:626877 |
| Date | January 2013 |
| Creators | Sultan, Muhammad |
| Contributors | Mccollum, Charles |
| Publisher | University of Manchester |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/studiesonthepreventionofvenousinsufficiencyandulceration(c61c012a-9f45-4339-8598-20ab40298d02).html |
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