Compression therapy reduces recurrent leg cellulitis, finds NEJM study
Compression therapy seems to prevent recurrent leg cellulitis better than conservative management, according to a trial in the New England Journal of Medicine.
It is a known fact that Chronic edema of the leg is a risk factor for cellulitis. Daily use of compression garments on the leg has been recommended to prevent the recurrence of cellulitis, but there is limited evidence from trials regarding its effectiveness.
With this background, Elizabeth Webb and associates carried out a trial to investigate whether compression therapy was an effective therapy for preventing chronic and recurrent cellulitis.
The study was a single-center, randomized, non blinded trial and consisted of 183 patients with chronic edema of the leg and recurrent cellulitis, in a 1:1 ratio, to receive leg compression therapy plus education on cellulitis prevention (compression group) or education alone (control group). Follow-up occurred every 6 months for up to 3 years or until 45 episodes of cellulitis had occurred in the trial. The primary outcome that was assessed was the recurrence of cellulitis. Participants in the control group who had an episode of cellulitis crossed over to the compression group. Secondary outcomes included cellulitis-related hospital admission and quality-of-life assessments.
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