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.