[Changes in the perioperative venous hemodynamics and after immobilization of the lower extremity]

In a prospective study we examined 60 patients with lower limb injuries preoperatively, every 2nd day after operation, and at 6 and 12 weeks after trauma with the Doppler and Duplex methods. We distinguished between patients with an above-knee plaster and those with a below-knee plaster after operation. We were able to measure blood flow velocity, transverse width of the deep femoral vein and the volume of flow in this vein. Both legs were measured and compared. The results show a significant reduction of blood flow velocity during immobilization, with a small increase of blood volume passing through the vein. We also saw significant dilatation of the vein by up to 20%. These changes were measured not only on the traumatized leg but also on the normal side. The changes were greater with an above-knee plaster than with the below-knee plaster. The venous haemodynamics had still not returned to normal 6 weeks after trauma in the traumatized limb.