[Bruising after venepuncture]

A randomized cross-over investigation was carried out on 24 healthy volunteers to investigate the occurrence of bruising following compression on the extended or flexed elbow respectively, following venepuncture in the cubital fossa. Following 48 uncomplicated venepunctures (24 x 2) a total of 8 (17%) were found to have bruising, four of these after compression on the extended elbow and four after compression on the flexed elbow. It is concluded that there are no differences in the frequencies of bruising following closed venepuncture in the cubital fossa regardless of whether the subsequent compression is undertaken on the extended or flexed elbow.