Objectives: The occurrence of leg edema in patients with chronic venous disease (CVD) is currently evaluated by visual inspection, palpation, and measurement of limb circumference. The changes of soft tissues morphology in swollen legs have been poorly investigated by ultrasonography (US) in the past. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of medical compression stockings (MCS) on the US morphology of the cutaneous and subcutaneous layers (CL and SCL, respectively) in legs with venous edema.
Methods: The morphology of the cutaneous and subcutaneous layers (CL and SCL) was evaluated by US in 18 swollen legs with chronic venous disorders (CVD), before and after 4 weeks of treatment with MCS. Skin morphology was evaluated by using an 8-14 MHz probe with a dedicated setting, 5 cm above the medial malleolus.
Results: MCS provoked both quantitative and qualitative changes. A reduction of CL/SCL thickness greater than 20% was observed in 16/18 legs. A reduction of the SCL echogenicity was observed in 14/18 legs. Nine out of 12 legs which showed abnormalities of the CL before treatment showed a structural rearrangement of the dermis and the reappearing of the dermo-hypodermic junction.
Conclusions: The reduction of the SCL thickness is to be ascribed to the increase of veno-lymphatic drainage promoted by MCS. The reduction of tissue echogenicity by MCS is a quite innovative concept and it is suggestive for an anti-inflammatory action of MCS on skin tissues.
Keywords: Ultrasonography; compression stockings; compressive therapy; venous disorders; venous edema.