Pressure garments for use in the treatment of hypertrophic scars--a review of the problems associated with their use.

Pressure garments have been the mainstay of hypertrophic scar treatment since the 1970s. However, there are many problems associated with their use. This is the first in a series of papers on pressure garments that will review the literature published to date on the origins of pressure garments for hypertrophic scar treatment and the problems associated with current pressure garment use.

Pressure garments for use in the treatment of hypertrophic scars -- an evaluation of current construction techniques in NHS hospitals.

The purpose of this investigation was to establish the variety of pressure garment construction methods and materials used in UK hospitals. This paper reports an investigation conducted in two parts. First, a survey of pressure garment practitioners was conducted and second, 15 of the fabrics currently used in UK hospitals were tested. The results showed that the pressures exerted by pressure garments constructed in UK hospitals were likely to range from ineffectively low to dangerously high.