Bandages and bandaging techniques for compression therapy.

Bandaging skills are essential for community nurses not only as a method of supporting joints, or retaining a dressing but also as an important treatment of leg ulceration. It is important to be able to choose the correct type, size, and composition of bandage and then apply it safely using the most appropriate technique, as incorrectly applied bandages may lead to pressure necrosis and subsequent limb amputation. Bandaging applications have changed little over the last 100 years and the two most commonly used techniques are still the spiral and the figure-of-eight methods. There are advantages and disadvantages of both, and successful bandaging depends on choosing the correct product and good technique, both in stretching the bandage to the correct tension, and ensuring proper overlap between layers.