BACKGROUND: Although much has been published on the effects of compression on the venous system, relatively few studies address the duration of compression following sclerotherapy of telangiectatic webs associated with reticular veins.

OBJECTIVE: To perform a controlled study comparing the effects of different durations of compression following sclerotherapy of reticular veins and telangiectasias in similar locations.

METHOD: The study consisted of a total of 40 patients, 30 patients who received compression therapy and 10 control patients who did not receive compression therapy. The compression group consisted of 10 in each of three duration groups: 3 days, 1 week and 3 weeks. Patients were evaluated at 1 week, 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 12 weeks and 24 weeks for degree of improvement and side effects.

RESULTS: The three compression groups showed significantly greater improvement at 6 weeks (p = .004). There was a strong correlation between the length of time compression was applied and degree of improvement at 6 weeks, 12 weeks and 24 weeks of clinical follow-up; r = .74, p = .0006, r = .59, p = .006, r = .66, p = .0001, respectively. The patients treated with compression for 3 days and 1 week had more improvement than the control patients while the patients treated for 3 weeks of continuous compression had the most improvement. In terms of side effects, the 1 week and 3 week compression groups experienced the least amount of post-sclerotherapy hyperpigmentation.

CONCLUSIONS: Compression enhances the results following sclerotherapy in a statistically significant way and is directly correlated with duration of compression. Three weeks of continuous compression leads to the best results, although even 3 days of compression results in greater improvement than no compression. Compression leads to a statistically significant reduction of post-sclerotherapy hyperpigmentation.

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