Mechanical prophylaxis against deep vein thrombosis in Charnley hip arthroplasty

A retrospective study of 521 Charnley hip replacements involving 471 patients is presented, assessing the effect of mechanical prophylaxis against deep vein thrombosis. During the operation venous flow was stimulated in all cases by passive movement at the ankle joint. In addition, all patients used Flowtron leggings--a non-invasive, intermittent pneumatic compression device - on the unoperated leg during the operation and on both legs during the first 24 hours after the operation. The patients were mobilized as soon as possible with weight-bearing on the operated leg from the second postoperative day. As indicated by the results, the above combination of early mobilization, peroperative stimulation of the venous flow and the use of Flowtron leggings lowered the incidence of thromboembolic complications to 3.6 per cent.