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Fabrication of Compressed Hosiery and Measurement of its Pressure Characteristic Exerted on the Lower Limbs
Published on: May 27, 2020
Graduated compression stockings: knee length or thigh length
T Benkö1, E A Cooke, M A McNally
1Department of Trauma Surgery, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research
|February 24, 2001
Summary
Graduated compression stockings significantly improve lower limb venous blood flow, reducing venous stasis. Knee-length options offer comparable efficacy with enhanced comfort and less wrinkling, aiding deep venous thrombosis prevention.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Medicine
- Orthopaedic Surgery
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) prevention is crucial in orthopaedic surgery.
- The precise mechanisms of graduated compression stockings (GCS) in DVT prevention require further elucidation.
- Understanding the physiological effects and practical use of GCS is essential for patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the physiological impact of low-pressure GCS on lower limb venous blood flow.
- To evaluate the practical aspects, including comfort and fit, of different GCS types.
- To compare the efficacy of thigh-length versus knee-length GCS in reducing venous stasis.
Main Methods:
- Randomized controlled trial involving patients undergoing elective orthopaedic surgery.
- Four groups wore different types of GCS (thigh and knee lengths); one control group did not.
- Venous occlusion strain gauge plethysmography measured venous capacitance and outflow post-bed rest.
Main Results:
- All GCS groups showed significant increases in venous capacitance and outflow compared to controls.
- No significant difference in venous capacitance change was observed among the four GCS groups.
- Knee-length Brevet stockings were less effective in increasing venous outflow but wrinkled less and were more comfortable.
- All GCS types were reported as difficult to use, but knee-length versions improved patient comfort and reduced wrinkling.
Conclusions:
- Both thigh and knee-length GCS effectively decrease lower limb venous stasis.
- Knee-length GCS provide comparable venous stasis reduction to thigh-length options.
- Knee-length GCS offer improved patient comfort and reduced wrinkling, potentially enhancing compliance in DVT prevention.
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