Table 7 Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) outcomes for venous ulcers (n = 24)

Augustin 1999 (1989) [22]

Hydrocolloid dressing vs. Vaseline gauze dressing

Dominant

Ulcer-free week gained

−3,362

1.3

DePalma 1999 (1998) [23]

Thera-boot vs. Unna’s boot

Dominant

Ulcer-free week gained

−601

1.71

Glinski 1999 (1998) [24]

Micronized purified flavonoid fraction + SC vs. SC alone

Dominant^a

Additional wound healed

−714

0.19

Gordon 2006 (2005) [25]

Community leg club vs. community home nursing

488^a

Additional wound healed

Not reported

Not reported

Guest 2012^b (2010) [26]

NSBF vs. DBC

18^a

Percent additional reduction of ulcer area

146

8

Guest 2012^b (2010) [26]

NSBF vs. no skin protectant

1^a

Percent additional reduction of ulcer area

17

22

Guest 2012^b (2010) [26]

DBC vs. no skin protectant

Dominant^a

Percent additional reduction of ulcer area

−129

14

Iglesias 2006 (2004) [27]

Pentoxifylline plus compression vs. placebo plus compression

Dominant^a

QALY gained

−213

0.01

Iglesias 2004 (2001) [28]

Four-layer bandage vs. short-stretch bandage

Dominant^a

QALY gained

−566

0.02

Jull 2008 (2005) [29]

Manuka honey dressing vs. UC

Dominant^a,c

Additional wound healed

−48

0.06

Junger 2008 (2007) [30]

Low-frequency pulsed current (Dermapulse) vs. placebo

More costly & more effective^d

Percent additional reduction of ulcer area

Not reported

Not reported

Kerstein 2000^b (1995) [31]

Hydrocolloid dressing plus compression hosiery vs. Unna’s boot

Dominant

Additional wound healed

−6,748

0.18

Kerstein 2000^b (1995) [31]

Unna’s boot vs. saline gauze plus compression hosiery

More costly & more effective^d

Additional wound healed

Not reported

Not reported

Kikta 1988 (1987) [32]

Unna’s boot vs. hydrocolloid (DuoDERM)

Dominant^a

Additional wound healed

−209

0.32

Michaels 2009 (2007) [33]

Antimicrobial silver-donating dressings vs. low-adherent dressings

917,298^a

QALY gained

183

0.0002

Morrell 1998 (1995) [34]

Community leg ulcer clinics using four-layer compression bandaging vs. home nursing UC

7^a

Ulcer-free week gained

44

5.9

O’Brien 2003 (2000) [35]

Four-layer bandage vs. UC

Dominant^a

Increase in healing rate

−42

0.2

Oien 2001 (1997) [36]

Pinch grafting in primary care vs. pinch grafting in hospital

Cost saving & same effectiveness

Additional wound healed

−14,075

0

Sibbald 2001 (1997) [37]

Skin substitute (Apligraf) plus four-layer bandage vs. four-layer bandage only

6095^a

Additional wound healed

457

0.075

Taylor 1998 (1987) [38]

Four-layer high-compression bandaging vs. UC

Dominant^a

Additional wound healed

−659

0.095

Ukat 2003 (2002) [39]

Multilayer elastic bandaging (Profore) vs. short-stretch bandaging

Dominant^a

Additional wound healed

−1,198

0.08

Watson 2011 (2007) [40]

Ultrasound plus SC vs. SC alone

Dominated^a

QALY gained

371

−0.009

Pham 2012 (2009) [41]

Four-layer bandaging vs. short-stretch bandaging

43,918^a

QALY gained

395

0.009

Schonfeld 2000 (1996) [42]

Apligraf (Graftskin) vs. Unna’s Boot

Dominant^a

Ulcer-free month gained

−13,883

2.85

Simon 1996 (1993) [43]

Community leg ulcer clinic vs. UC clinic

Dominant

Additional wound healed

−1,826

0.22

Carr 1999 (1998) [44]

Four-layer compression bandaging (Profore) vs. UC

Dominant^a

Additional wound healed

−1,289

0.13

Guest 2009 (2007) [45]

Amelogenin plus compression therapy vs. compression therapy only

Dominant^a

QALY gained

−835

0.054