[Effect of the Barbotan treatment on patients with vascular disorders associated with gonarthrosis]

Barbotan Spa has two types of thermal strata: the mesothermal waters (35-37 degrees) and the vegeto-mineral mud. This double layer allows the treatment of patients with circulatory disorders combined with rheumatic affections. This study is based on 15 parameters of venous gonarthritic disorders in 20 patients. These parameters were measured in the two first and the two last days of the cure, notably by means of foot volumetry with venous occlusion. The publication describes the technique, the classification of patients, and the immediate results. The discussion enables the authors to draw up significant parameters and it confirms the results obtained by other authors, and tries to give a physiopathological explanation. This work concludes that mixed treatment is more than 75% effective; the authors insist on the need to resist contributory factors such as obesity and endocrinic disorders. The thermal cure should be the complete taking in hand of the patient.