What's the purpose of pleating a medicated bandage?

[talaxandra]

Okay, I'm way over here on the medical site of nursing, and though I can do a dressing with the best of them, I'm not so au fait with the more specialised or esoteric aspects of wound management. We've got a patient who has intractable lg wounds (15 months and counting) - dermatology have prescribed viscopaste dressings, which is fine, but the directions in the pack give two ways of wrapping - regular and pleated. What's the advantage of pleating a medicated bandage? Any responses (that fall short of pointing and laughing :)) gratefully received.

[darren_callcareer18]

It is applied in that way so that it is in a loose manner. It ensures that the viscopaste dressings wont have a tourniquet effect that will constrict blood flow.

[talaxandra]

Thanks - I'm still not completely clear but have a better picture now :)

[SitcomNurse, BSN, MSN, EdD, RN]

I think defining the pleat as perpendicular to the head toe orientation, and a fold as horizontal to the head toe orienataion is necessary.

So in pleating, you have a pleated skirt appearance perpendicular, as if you were making a multi folded ribbon, (usually only 2-3 pleats) and if the area swells, the pleats relax and the bandage does not constrict.

Not a fold, so it looks like layers of vinyl siding. That does not hvae the benefit described above.