Contraindications to Coban Therapy

Wounds on the fingers, fingertips, or nail area which require bandaging are usually covered with Coban. Coban is an elastic bandage which can produce compression on the finger or fingertip, and is not used in patients who have severe vascular disease or impaired feeling in their fingertip. In these patients, a compressive finger dressing carries the risk of damaging the finger and possibly resulting in amputation. Specifically, this contraindication includes the following groups:

Patients with a working diagnosis of vascular insufficiency of the hand.

Patients who have had lower extremity amputations for vascular disease.

Renal transplant patients.

Patients with anesthetic fingers from nerve injuries.

Patients with diabetic or compressive neuropathy who have numb fingers.

Patients with ongoing substance abuse problems.

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