[Proposal with a view to a classification of retention means: stockings and elastic bandages].

In answer to a need for clarification in the prescribing of support stockings, the author proposes to manufacturers five categories of clinical needs: 1) venous insufficiency that is well offset and is manifested only occasionally in the form of functional problems when there is too much pressure. 2) venous insufficiency with more continuous functional problems and occasional (edema) physical manifestations. 3) non offset venous insufficiency with frequent, if not continuous, vesperal edema. 4) complicated cured venous insufficiency (post-ulcer and post-phlebitis period). 5) lymphedema. A similar classification may be made for elastic bandes, with emphasis on categories 2, 4 and 5.