Custom-Made Compression Elastic Garments for Vascular Anomalies and Edematous Disorders: Objective and Subjective...

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Medical Device Technology
• Patient Outcomes Research

Background:

• Compression therapy is a primary treatment for vascular malformations and Klippel-Trénaunay syndrome (KTS).
• Off-the-shelf garments often fit poorly in patients with complex limb morphology.
• Data on custom-made compression garments across diverse conditions are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the real-world effectiveness of custom-made compression elastic garments.
• To evaluate both objective and subjective outcomes in patients with vascular anomalies and edematous disorders.
• To explore the feasibility and tolerability of custom garments in a multi-institutional setting.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective observational case series across four institutions (May 2023 - September 2025).
• Inclusion of patients with vascular anomalies, edema, varicose veins, and post-traumatic/burn venous stasis.
• Analysis of objective (limb circumference change) and subjective (patient satisfaction) outcomes.

Main Results:

• 191 patients (mean age 36.3 years) received custom garments.
• Pediatric vascular anomaly subgroup (n=20) showed significant limb circumference reduction (median -2 mm).
• Edematous disorder subgroup (n=20) reported significant improvement in patient satisfaction (median score increased from 3 to 4).

Conclusions:

• Custom-made compression elastic garments are feasible and well-tolerated for various vascular and edematous conditions.
• Objective limb reduction observed in pediatric vascular anomalies; subjective satisfaction improved in adult edema.
• Findings are hypothesis-generating, suggesting tailored outcome measures for future prospective studies.