Profore® is the registered trademark for a bandaging system that is manufactured by Smith & Nephew — an international medical technology company. The Profore® bandage is a four-layer bandaging system that is mostly used in the treatment of chronic venous leg ulcers. A range of kits with different size components are available to accommodate patients with a wide variety of limb sizes and shapes.
Venous leg ulcers are sores that develop when the leg veins are not returning blood back toward the heart the way they are supposed to. The veins in the leg have one-way valves that are supposed to keep the blood flowing back up the leg. If these valves become damaged or blocked, they may cause the blood to pool. This can lead to tissue damage, and a leg ulcer may eventually develop. These ulcers typically are difficult to heal and often are prone to reappearance.
The consistent application of the correct level of compression is a key factor in the healing process of venous leg ulcers. Bandages that apply too much pressure can cause tissue damage. If there is not enough compression applied, then the healing process could be slowed down. The Profore® bandage with its four-layer system of bandaging is designed to provide a high amount of compression at the ankle and then gradually decrease the amount of pressure as it moves up to the knee. Underneath the compression layers is a layer of padding to provide absorbency and comfort.
There are five elements to the Profore® bandaging system. The first element is a small, loosely knit pad that comes in direct contact with the actual wound and allows liquids from the wound to flow through it into the next layer. Then the Profore® bandage No. 1 — a soft, fleece-like absorbent padding — is wound around the leg from the toes to the knee. Extra padding can be used around the ankle bones and shins to protect them.
Profore® bandage No. 2 is a roll of light-knit dressing designed to absorb fluids and provide a smooth surface for the next layer. It is applied in a spiral with a 50-percent overlap. Profore® bandage No. 3 is a light-weight elastic compression bandage. The fourth and final layer, Profore® bandage No. 4, is an adhesive elastic compression bandage that holds all the layers underneath it in place, as well as applies additional compression.
Proper application of the Profore® bandage system is an important part of the treatment program. The Profore® bandage system typically has enough absorbency to last for a week while maintaining a consistent level of compression. Initially, it may be necessary to change the bandage more often because of wound drainage.
