Intermittent pneumatic compression reduces the risk of deep vein thrombosis during postoperative lower limb immobilisation

This report has been verified by one or more authors of the original publication.

One hundred and fifty patients who underwent Achilles tendon rupture repair surgery were randomized to receive either intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) for six hours a day under an orthosis (Aircast XP Walker, DJO LLC) for two weeks, or standard treatment in a plaster cast without IPC. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of IPC on rates of deep vein thrombosis (DVT.) The findings of this study demonstrated IPC to be an effective treatment to reduce incidence of DVT at two-weeks postoperatively compared to patients in a plaster cast without IPC. However, following the discontinuation of IPC at 2 weeks the significant difference in DVT incidence rates was not maintained at postoperative week 6.