Fisher CG, Blachut PA, Salvian AJ, Meek RN, OŽBrien PJ.
Effectiveness of pneumatic leg compression devices for the prevention of
thromboembolic disease in orthopaedic trauma patients: a prospective, randomized
study of compression alone versus no prophylaxis.
J Orthop Trauma 1995 Feb;9(1):1-7

Department of Orthopaedics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

A prospective, randomized clinical trial in 304 orthopaedic trauma patients with
hip and pelvic fractures was conducted to investigated the effectiveness of
pneumatic sequential leg compression devices (PSLCDs) for the prevention of
thromboembolic disease. The control group received no specific form of
prophylaxis. Patients were followed by venous Doppler, duplex can, and
ventilation perfusion lung scans. The study end-point was documented pulmonary
embolism and/or deep vein thrombosis. The incidence of a venous thromboembolic
event in the control group was 11% and in the experimental group 4%. This
difference was statistically significant (p = 0.02). These patients were also
stratified into hip and pelvic fracture groups. In the hip fracture patients, the
control group had a thromboembolic event incidence of 12% and the experimental
group 4%. This difference was also statistically significant (p = 0.03). In the
pelvic fracture group there was a thromboembolic incidence of 11% in the
controls, demonstrating this patient population to be at significant risk. In
this group, the PSLCDs were not statistically shown to be effective. Pneumatic
leg compression devices are effective in reducing the incidence of thromboembolic
events in patients with hip fractures.