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Prediction of the Biomechanical Effects of Compression Therapy on Deep Veins Using Finite Element Modelling

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Abstract

Clinicians generally assume that Medical Compression Stockings (MCS) work by reducing vein luminal diameter and, in this way, help to prevent blood pooling. Conflicting results have been reported however in the case of lower leg deep veins which call into question this hypothesis. The purpose of this contribution is to study the biomechanical response of the main lower leg deep veins to elastic compression and muscle contraction with the objective of improving our current understanding of the mechanism by which MCS convey their benefits. The development of a finite-element model of a slice of the lower leg from MR images is detailed. Analysis of the finite-element model shows that the contribution of the MCS to the deep vein diameter reduction is rather small, and in fact negligible, compared to that of the contracting muscle (3 and 9% decrease in the vein cross-sectional area with a grade II compression stocking in the supine and standing positions respectively, while complete collapse was obtained at the end of muscle activation). A more accurate representation of the muscle activation is eventually proposed to study the effect of muscle contraction on a vein wall. The impact on the venous blood draining is discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Biomedical and Healthcare Engineering, Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Saint-Etienne, CIS-EMSE, CNRS:UMR5146, LCG, 158 cours Fauriel, 42023, Saint-Etienne Cedex 2, France

    Pierre-Yves Rohan, Pierre Badel & Stéphane Avril

  2. SIGVARIS Applied Research Department, Saint-Just-Saint-Rambert, France

    Bertrand Lun

  3. Grenoble, France

    Didier Rastel

Authors
  1. Pierre-Yves Rohan
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  2. Pierre Badel
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  3. Bertrand Lun
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  4. Didier Rastel
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  5. Stéphane Avril
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Correspondence to Stéphane Avril.

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Associate Editor Amit Gefen oversaw the review of this article.

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Rohan, PY., Badel, P., Lun, B. et al. Prediction of the Biomechanical Effects of Compression Therapy on Deep Veins Using Finite Element Modelling. Ann Biomed Eng 43, 314–324 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-014-1121-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-014-1121-6

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