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- Venous Leg Ulcers (VLU)
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- View All
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Approximately 1% of the western population is affected by Venous Leg Ulcers (VLU).¹ This chronic condition can have a devastating impact on an individual’s physical and emotional well-being.² People living with chronic edema and VLUs want to engage fully in everyday activities — without feeling uncomfortable or self-conscious about what’s on their legs and feet. 3M can help manage challenges related to VLUs.
Cost of Venous Leg Ulcers
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Up to $912 million is spent anually in Canada to treat leg ulcers.*
*Based on a 0.32% leg ulcer prevalence rate3 and an estimated cost per case of $7,500.3
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There is a 55% reoccurrence rate of healed Venous Leg Ulcers within the first 12 months of closure.5
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28% of patients experience more than 10 Venous Leg Ulcer episodes in their lifetime.6
The ABC Model for Leg Ulcer Management
In 2015 Wounds International published a simplified approach to Venous Leg Ulcer care.7 The consensus document simplified assessment and management of Venous Leg Ulcers into three mains steps, or an ‘ABC’ model of care.7
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Regular Reassessment
Assessment and Diagnosis
Regular Reassessment
A comprehensive assessment should be taken to ascertain past medical history, current mobility, pain levels and nutrition, home and work environments, caregiver/family involvement and patient concerns.
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Management (including education)
Best Practices
Management Best Practices
Reducing the pain and discomfort of VLUs includes best practice skin and wound care and managing chronic edema, which can help in managing VLUs.7
Step 1: Protect peri-wound skin.
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3M™ Cavilon™ No-Rinse Skin Cleanser
No-Rinse Skin Cleanser that provides simple, gentle, effective cleansing for your skin care needs.8
-
3M™ Cavilon™ Durable Barrier Cream
A concentrated barrier cream that provides durable, long-lasting moisture barrier protection while moisturizing the skin.9
-
3M™ Cavilon™ No Sting Barrier Film
Alcohol-free no sting liquid barrier film that helps protect intact or damaged skin from bodily fluids, adhesive trauma and friction.10
-
3M™ Cavilon™ Advanced Skin Protectant
Highly durable and long-lasting barrier film that can attach to wet, weepy surfaces and help create a protective environment that repels irritants and supports healing.11
-
3M™ Cavilon™ No-Rinse Skin Cleanser
No-Rinse Skin Cleanser that provides simple, gentle, effective cleansing for your skin care needs.8
-
3M™ Cavilon™ Durable Barrier Cream
A concentrated barrier cream that provides durable, long-lasting moisture barrier protection while moisturizing the skin.9
-
3M™ Cavilon™ No Sting Barrier Film
Alcohol-free no sting liquid barrier film that helps protect intact or damaged skin from bodily fluids, adhesive trauma and friction.10
-
3M™ Cavilon™ Advanced Skin Protectant
Highly durable and long-lasting barrier film that can attach to wet, weepy surfaces and help create a protective environment that repels irritants and supports healing.11
-
3M™ Cavilon™ No-Rinse Skin Cleanser
No-Rinse Skin Cleanser that provides simple, gentle, effective cleansing for your skin care needs.
-
3M™ Cavilon™ Durable Barrier Cream
A concentrated barrier cream that provides durable, long-lasting moisture barrier protection while moisturizing the skin.
-
3M™ Cavilon™ No Sting Barrier Film
Alcohol-free no sting liquid barrier film that helps protect intact or damaged skin from bodily fluids, adhesive trauma and friction.10
-
3M™ Cavilon™ Advanced Skin Protectant
Highly durable and long-lasting barrier film that can attach to wet, weepy surfaces and help create a protective environment that repels irritants and supports healing.11
Step 2: Optimize the wound environment.
Manage Bioburden
Provide Collagen and ORC
-
3M™ Silvercel™ Dressing Family
Helps manage bacterial contamination and infection in moderate to highly exuding partial and full thickness wounds.
-
3M™ Promogran™ Matrix Family and 3M™ Promogran Prisma™ Wound Balancing Matrix
Helps manage elevated protease and elastase activity in a wound. In vitro studies have demonstrated that the combination of oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) and collagen materials has a greater effect in reducing both MMP and elastase activity than collagen alone.12,13
-
3M™ Silvercel™ Dressing Family
Helps manage bacterial contamination and infection in moderate to highly exuding partial and full thickness wounds.
-
3M™ Promogran™ Matrix Family and 3M™ Promogran Prisma™ Wound Balancing Matrix
Helps manage elevated protease and elastase activity in a wound. In vitro studies have demonstrated that the combination of oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) and collagen materials has a greater effect in reducing both MMP and elastase activity than collagen alone.12,13
Manage Bioburden
Provide Collagen and ORC
Manage Exudate
-
3M™ Kerramax Care™ Super-Absorbent Dressing
Kerramax Care Dressing comprises a soft, non-woven material, horizontal wicking layer, super-absorbent core which together absorbs and retains high levels of exudate and potentially harmful bacteria14,15* and MMPs16* from the wound bed to facilitate healing and reduce the risk of maceration.17,18*
*As demonstrated in vitro.
-
3M™ Tegaderm™ High Performance Foam Dressings
Designed to meet the challenges of low- to high-exudating wounds. These dressings integrate innovative layer technology to absorb and evaporate moisture to help maintain optimal wound healing environment.
-
3M™ Tegaderm™ Silicone Foam Dressings
Featuing 3M's innovative layer technology, 3M™ Tegaderm™ Silicone Foam Dressings provide longer wear time than the leading competitive silicone foam dressings19 while being gentle to skin.
-
3M™ Snap™ Therapy System
Snap Therapy System is a mechanically powered disposable NPWT system that's discreet, silent and lightweight - allowing patients to sleep with minimal interference and shower with the unit in place.
-
3M™ Kerramax Care™ Super-Absorbent Dressing
Kerramax Care Dressing comprises a soft, non-woven material, horizontal wicking layer, super-absorbent core which together absorbs and retains high levels of exudate and potentially harmful bacteria14,15* and MMPs16* from the wound bed to facilitate healing and reduce the risk of maceration.17,18*
*As demonstrated in vitro.
3M™ Tegaderm™ High Performance Foam Dressings
Designed to meet the challenges of low- to high-exudating wounds. These dressings integrate innovative layer technology to absorb and evaporate moisture to help maintain optimal wound healing environment.
3M™ Tegaderm™ Silicone Foam Dressings
Featuing 3M's innovative layer technology, 3M™ Tegaderm™ Silicone Foam Dressings provide longer wear time than the leading competitive silicone foam dressings19 while being gentle to skin.
3M™ Snap™ Therapy System
Snap Therapy System is a mechanically powered disposable NPWT system that's discreet, silent and lightweight - allowing patients to sleep with minimal interference and shower with the unit in place.
3M™ ActiV.A.C.™ Therapy System
ActiV.A.C. Therapy System is a portable NPWT device for the mobile patient with features that help maintain pressure at the wound site.
Step 3: Provide therapeutic compression.
-
Compression therapy has been shown to increase the rate of healing as compared to healing rates without the use of compression.20
-
Management (including education)
Best Practices
Management Best Practices
Reducing the pain and discomfort of VLUs includes best practice skin and wound care and managing chronic edema, which can help in managing VLUs.7
Step 1: Protect peri-wound skin.
-
3M™ Cavilon™ No-Rinse Skin Cleanser
No-Rinse Skin Cleanser that provides simple, gentle, effective cleansing for your skin care needs.8
-
3M™ Cavilon™ Durable Barrier Cream
A concentrated barrier cream that provides durable, long-lasting moisture barrier protection while moisturizing the skin.9
-
3M™ Cavilon™ No Sting Barrier Film
Alcohol-free no sting liquid barrier film that helps protect intact or damaged skin from bodily fluids, adhesive trauma and friction.10
-
3M™ Cavilon™ Advanced Skin Protectant
Highly durable and long-lasting barrier film that can attach to wet, weepy surfaces and help create a protective environment that repels irritants and supports healing.11
-
3M™ Cavilon™ No-Rinse Skin Cleanser
No-Rinse Skin Cleanser that provides simple, gentle, effective cleansing for your skin care needs.8
-
3M™ Cavilon™ Durable Barrier Cream
A concentrated barrier cream that provides durable, long-lasting moisture barrier protection while moisturizing the skin.9
-
3M™ Cavilon™ No Sting Barrier Film
Alcohol-free no sting liquid barrier film that helps protect intact or damaged skin from bodily fluids, adhesive trauma and friction.10
-
3M™ Cavilon™ Advanced Skin Protectant
Highly durable and long-lasting barrier film that can attach to wet, weepy surfaces and help create a protective environment that repels irritants and supports healing.11
-
3M™ Cavilon™ No-Rinse Skin Cleanser
No-Rinse Skin Cleanser that provides simple, gentle, effective cleansing for your skin care needs.
-
3M™ Cavilon™ Durable Barrier Cream
A concentrated barrier cream that provides durable, long-lasting moisture barrier protection while moisturizing the skin.
-
3M™ Cavilon™ No Sting Barrier Film
Alcohol-free no sting liquid barrier film that helps protect intact or damaged skin from bodily fluids, adhesive trauma and friction.10
-
3M™ Cavilon™ Advanced Skin Protectant
Highly durable and long-lasting barrier film that can attach to wet, weepy surfaces and help create a protective environment that repels irritants and supports healing.11
Step 2: Optimize the wound environment.
Manage Bioburden
Provide Collagen and ORC
-
3M™ Silvercel™ Dressing Family
Helps manage bacterial contamination and infection in moderate to highly exuding partial and full thickness wounds.
-
3M™ Promogran™ Matrix Family and 3M™ Promogran Prisma™ Wound Balancing Matrix
Helps manage elevated protease and elastase activity in a wound. In vitro studies have demonstrated that the combination of oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) and collagen materials has a greater effect in reducing both MMP and elastase activity than collagen alone.12,13
-
3M™ Silvercel™ Dressing Family
Helps manage bacterial contamination and infection in moderate to highly exuding partial and full thickness wounds.
-
3M™ Promogran™ Matrix Family and 3M™ Promogran Prisma™ Wound Balancing Matrix
Helps manage elevated protease and elastase activity in a wound. In vitro studies have demonstrated that the combination of oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) and collagen materials has a greater effect in reducing both MMP and elastase activity than collagen alone.12,13
Manage Bioburden
Provide Collagen and ORC
Manage Exudate
-
3M™ Kerramax Care™ Super-Absorbent Dressing
Kerramax Care Dressing comprises a soft, non-woven material, horizontal wicking layer, super-absorbent core which together absorbs and retains high levels of exudate and potentially harmful bacteria14,15* and MMPs16* from the wound bed to facilitate healing and reduce the risk of maceration.17,18*
*As demonstrated in vitro.
-
3M™ Tegaderm™ High Performance Foam Dressings
Designed to meet the challenges of low- to high-exudating wounds. These dressings integrate innovative layer technology to absorb and evaporate moisture to help maintain optimal wound healing environment.
-
3M™ Tegaderm™ Silicone Foam Dressings
Featuing 3M's innovative layer technology, 3M™ Tegaderm™ Silicone Foam Dressings provide longer wear time than the leading competitive silicone foam dressings19 while being gentle to skin.
-
3M™ Snap™ Therapy System
Snap Therapy System is a mechanically powered disposable NPWT system that's discreet, silent and lightweight - allowing patients to sleep with minimal interference and shower with the unit in place.
-
3M™ Kerramax Care™ Super-Absorbent Dressing
Kerramax Care Dressing comprises a soft, non-woven material, horizontal wicking layer, super-absorbent core which together absorbs and retains high levels of exudate and potentially harmful bacteria14,15* and MMPs16* from the wound bed to facilitate healing and reduce the risk of maceration.17,18*
*As demonstrated in vitro.
3M™ Tegaderm™ High Performance Foam Dressings
Designed to meet the challenges of low- to high-exudating wounds. These dressings integrate innovative layer technology to absorb and evaporate moisture to help maintain optimal wound healing environment.
3M™ Tegaderm™ Silicone Foam Dressings
Featuing 3M's innovative layer technology, 3M™ Tegaderm™ Silicone Foam Dressings provide longer wear time than the leading competitive silicone foam dressings19 while being gentle to skin.
3M™ Snap™ Therapy System
Snap Therapy System is a mechanically powered disposable NPWT system that's discreet, silent and lightweight - allowing patients to sleep with minimal interference and shower with the unit in place.
3M™ ActiV.A.C.™ Therapy System
ActiV.A.C. Therapy System is a portable NPWT device for the mobile patient with features that help maintain pressure at the wound site.
Step 3: Provide therapeutic compression.
-
Compression therapy has been shown to increase the rate of healing as compared to healing rates without the use of compression.20
-
Management (including education)
Compression Therapy
Management Using Compression Therapy
3M™ Coban™ 2 Two-Layer Compression System provides sustained, therapeutic compression for up to seven days,21 which has been shown to reduce chronic edema, support healing,21,22 reduce wound size,21 and significantly reduce leg pain.21 3M™ Coban™ 2 Compression Systems are easy to apply23 and are less bulky compared to four-layer compression systems.21,22
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Compression is therapeutic when sufficient pressure is applied. Too little pressure will minimize the benefits and too much pressure may cause damage or not be tolerated by the patient. Our compression layer is designed to be applied at full stretch, eliminating guesswork.
-
The thin, lightweight materials create a breathable sleeve that allows patients to wear their own shoes and clothing. Because the bandages are comfortable to wear, patients are more likely to keep them on, increasing concordance and the potential for effective treatment.24,25
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Our patented, interlocking materials adhere to each other, creating an inelastic sleeve that gently grips the skin and reduces the potential for uncomfortable slipping or bunching.22,24
3M™ Coban™ 2 Layer Compression System — application and removal videos for Venous Leg Ulcers (VLUs)
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Related Articles and Educational Content
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Contact a representativeReferences
- Simka, M. & Majewski, E. Am J Clin Dermatol (2003) 4: 573. https://doi.org/10.2165/00128071-200304080-00007.
- Brem H, Kirsner RS, Falanga V. Protocol for the successful management of venous ulcers. Am J Surg 2004 Jul; 188 (1A Suppl):1-8.
- Graham, I.D.; Harrison, M.B.; Nelson, E.A.; Lorimer, K.; Fisher, A. Prevalence of lower-limb ulceration: a systematic review of prevalence studies. Adv. Skin Wound Care. 2003; 16(6): 305-316. doi: 10.1097/00129334-200311000-00013.
- Graham, I.D.; Harrison, M.B.; Shafey, M.; Keast, D. Knowledge and attitudes regarding care of leg ulcers. Can. Fam. Physician. 2003; 49: 896-902.
- Finlayson, K.; et al. Predicting the likelihood of venous leg recurrence: The diagnostic accuracy of a newly developed risk assessment tool. Int. Wound. 2018: 1-9.
- Weller, C.; Buchbinder, R.; Johnston, R. Interventions for helping people adhere to compression treatments for venous leg ulceration (Review). Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. 2013; 9.
- Hardling K, Challenging passivity in venous leg ulcer care - the ABC model of management, Int Wound J. 2016 Dec;13(6):1378-1384. doi: 10.1111/iwj.12608. Epub 2016 May 5.
- 3M Data on file, CLAIM-SHEET-US-05-201421_2
- 3M Data on file, CLAIM-SHEET-US-05-262521_3
- 3M Data on file, CLAIM-SHEET-US-05-201605_4
- 3M Data on file, CLAIM-SHEET-US-05-147673
- Cullen B, Watt P, Lundqvist C, et al. The role of oxidized regenerated cellulose/collagen in chronic wound repair and its potential mechanism of action. Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2002;34(12):1544-1556.
- Gibson M, Cullen B. Can natural materials be adapted to optimize their efficacy in wound care? Poster presented at: Society of Advanced Wound Healing (SAWC); 2014; Orlando, FL.
- Cooper, R. An investigation into the ability of Kerramax Care™ and Kerrafoam™ to bind bacteria. Cardiff Metropolitan University. September 2013.
- Singh G, Thomason H. Sequestration and retention of bacteria by superabsorbent dressings over time. KCI. CHC R1043 (in vitro). University of Manchester & KCI Knutsford, UK. 2020.
- Singh G, Byrne C, Thomason H, McBain A. Investigating the microbial and metalloprotease sequestration properties of superabsorbent wound dressings. Sci Rep. 2022; 12 (1): 4747
- Hughes, M. A large-scale evaluation of managing moderate and highly exuding wounds in the community. Wounds UK. 2017;13(3):78-85.
- Jones J, Barraud J. An evaluation of Kerramax Care in the management of moderate to heavily exuding wounds. Br J Community Nurs. 2014 Mar; Suppl: S8, S50-53.
- 10 cm x 10 cm and 15 cm x 15 cm (4 in x 4 in and 6 in x 6 in) dressings, based on In vivo studies EM-13977 and EM13978. Two times longer wear time than leading competitor silicone foam dressing when worn for 7 days (6.9 days for 3M™ Tegaderm™ Silicone Foam Dressing, 2.8 days for Mepilex(R) Border Foam Dressing).
- O’Meara S, Cullum N, Nelson EA, Dumville JC. Compression for venous leg ulcers. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012.
- Mosti, G.; Crespi, A.; Mattaliano, V. Comparison Between a new, Two-component Compression System with Zinc Paste Bandages for Leg Ulcers Healing: A Prospective, Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Trail Monitoring Sub-bandage Pressures. Wounds. 2011; 23(5): 126-134.
- Moffatt, C.; Edwards, L.; Collier, M.; Treadwell, T.; Miller, M.; Shafer, L.; Sibbald, R.G.; Brassard, A.; (MC)Intosh, A.; Reyzelman, A.; Price, P.; Krause, S.M.; Walters, S.A.; Harding, K. A randomized controlled 8-week crossover clinical evaluation of the 3M™ Coban™ 2 Layer Compression System versus Profore™ to evaluate product performance in patients with venous leg ulcers. Int. Wound J. 2008; 5(2); 267-279.
- Collier M, Schuren J. Ease of use and reproducibility of five compression systems. J Wound Care 2007; 3M Supplement: 8-10.
- Schuren J, Andreas C. Pressure and slippage during 48 hours of compression therapy: a study on healthy volunteers. Poster presentation: SAWC 2010.
- Schnobrich E, Solfest S, Bernatchez S, Zehrer C, Tucker J, Walters SA. 7-Day, In-use Assessment of a Unique, Innovative Compression System. Data on file at 3M. Poster presentation: SAWC 2006.
