Westrich GH, Jhon PH, Sanchez PM.
Compliance in using a pneumatic compression device after total knee arthroplasty.
Am J Orthop 2003 Mar;32(3):135-40

Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill Medical College of Cornell University,
New York, New York, USA.

A prospective study was performed to assess compliance with using a pneumatic foot
compression device for venous thrombosis prophylaxis after total knee arthroplasty.
One hundred patients received the PlexiPulse pneumatic compression device after
unilateral total knee arthroplasty. Patients were observed postoperatively by the
nurses on their floor and by 2 impartial research assistants. Total time the
patient spent wearing the device (as observed) was termed total compliance.
Actual compliance was calculated by subtracting unusable time from total
compliance. A survey was also issued to both patients and nurses to evaluate the
device regarding comfort, ease of use, and effectiveness. Overall, actual patient
compliance was 90.1%. Patients responded favorably to the device in terms of
comfort and ease of application and removal. Nurses rated the PlexiPulse device
highly when asked to compare it with other pneumatic compression devices they had
used before.