Lynn Welsh assesses the efficacy of different bandage types, the evidence for best practice in bandaging, and the importance of a clinician’s skill in care outcomes

Venous leg ulcers cause significant problems for patients and can have a serious effect on quality of life. The cost of treatment in the UK is huge and recurrence is common. This article examines the evidence for compression therapy in treating venous leg ulcers and the different types of compression used in practice. It also considers some of the challenges in achieving international consensus on compression, and highlights clinician skill as a variable that future studies into the effectiveness of compression therapy must address.