The efficiency of pain control using a thigh pad under the elastic stocking in patients following venous stripping: results of a case-control study.

Background. The use of a specific thigh foam pad placed under compression stockings increases interface pressure. The interface pressure obtained under 2 medical compression stockings of 15 to 20 mm Hg at the ankle, is 14 ± 2.2 mm Hg in the middle of the thigh in the horizontal position and rises to 49.2 ± 4.7 mm Hg when an appropriate thigh foam pad is interposed. Thigh compression could be useful in relieving pain after surgery of the great saphenous vein. Objective. The aim of this study was to compare pain intensity on day 1 and day 7 and global mean pain during the week after stripping of the great saphenous vein between patients to whom a pad has been added at the thigh level under the compression stocking (case) and patients wearing a compression stocking only (control). Methods. Case–control study conducted in daily surgical practice by patients having undergone surgical stripping. Main criteria: pain self-evaluation on visual analogue scale from day 1 to day 7 adjusted for analgesic consumption. ...