Assessment of lower limbs edema in healthy workers who are exposed to long-term gravity

Performance of an adjustable compression wrap in occupational leg swelling

BACKGROUND

Edema in some subjects worsens over time and wraps help to reduce the leg volume.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

An adjustable compression wrap was tried on volunteers for 5 h and volumes measured in each limb before and after wrapping using a 3D surface scanner (HandySCAN 3D®) to estimate the volume of the leg. The contralateral leg was used as control.

RESULTS

We observed a significant decrease in volume in the wrap legs and an increase in the control legs (p < .001), both in the lower part of leg (p = .001) and in the upper part (p = .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Using the Readywrap® for 5 hours significantly reduces the leg volume. This study enables Readywrap to be studied in a population that is easy to observe in the context of a research program. The Handyscan3D® was shown accurate and reproducible to assess leg volume in future studies.

Comparison between bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy measurements and water volume displacement of ankle oedema variations during the course of a day

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to find relationships between variations in bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS) measurements and those obtained by water displacement (WD) and calf (C) and ankle (A) perimetry on legs of patients with venous insufficiency and lower limb oedema, some with positive pitting test (PPT), others with negative pitting test (NPT).

APPROACH

Twenty-nine (29) female subjects were clinically examined prior to inclusion in the trial. Measurements were taken once in the morning and then 6 h later, using perimetry, WD, and then BIS; subjects were standing. Leg volume was assessed using two WD volumeters, one 'Tall' (TWD) and one 'Short' (SWD). BIS was performed using a SFB7 impedance meter device (Impedimed^®).

MAIN RESULTS

Forty-three (43) legs with oedema were included. The results showed that 61% of the TWD variations variance was explained by SWD variations; less than 30% of the TWD variations variance was explained using BIS or perimetry alone, and 45% at best when used in combination. R₀, related to extracellular water, was the key BIS parameter. For NPT subpopulation (32 legs), the composite parameter (C² - A²)/R₀ explained more than 60% of the TWD variations variance. For PPT subpopulation (11 legs), small or statistically non-significant variance explanations were found.

SIGNIFICANCE

Combination of anthropometric and BIS parameters gave a better forecast of WD results than using only one or other. A novel composite parameter, (C² - A²)/R₀, better predicted TWD changes than other parameters hitherto used in literature, with improved estimates for the NPT subpopulation. Study n°ANSM 2017-A01063-50.