Effective Treatment of Posttraumatic and Postoperative Edema

Luzerner Kantonsspital

Status: Completed

Conditions: Edema

Treatments: Behavioral: ice gel pack; Other: Multi-layer compression bandage; Device: A-V Impulse compression

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Industry

Identifiers

NCT01389089

616

Details and patient eligibility

About

Edema control after ankle- and hindfoot fractures is important. Multi-layer compression bandages or A-V Impulse compression may are more effective in reducing edema than ice.

Full description

After ankle- and hindfoot fractures, edema has a major impact on the time point of surgical intervention and may increases the risk of wound complications and infection postoperatively. Effective treatment of edema, therefore, is of great importance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the multi-layer compression therapy and of the A-V Impulse compression (AVI) in reducing ankle- and hindfoot edema as compared to the standard treatment with ice.

Enrollment: 64 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age 18-65 years

• Inpatients

• Acute ankle- or hindfoot fractures (malleolar-, calcaneus-, talus-, and pilon- tibial fractures) including fractures temporary stabilized with an external fixator)

• No walking aids before trauma

• Written informed consent

• Monotrauma

• Preoperative and/or postoperative edema

• Preoperative inclusion

  • if delay of surgery due to ankle edema
  • if fracture stable enough for temporary removal of orthesis

Exclusion criteria

• Diabetes Mellitus
• Lymphedema
• Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAD)
• Decompensated heart failure or renal insufficiency
• Acute bacterial infection
• Severe osteoporosis
• Pathological fractures
• Known tumors
• Postthrombotic syndrome
• Thrombosis
• Open fractures
• Polytrauma, cerebral trauma
• Neurological deficiencies
• Diuretics
• Pregnancy
• Alcohol or drug abuse
• Psychological disorders

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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64 participants in 3 patient groups

Control group

Sham Comparator group

Description:

The Control group received ice gel packs and elevation to reduce edema.

Treatment:

Behavioral: ice gel pack

Multi-layer compression bandage

Experimental group

Description:

A multi-layer compression bandage was applied to the lower limb and foot of the patient to reduce edema. Additionally, the limb was constantly elevated.

Treatment:

Other: Multi-layer compression bandage

A-V Impulse compression

Active Comparator group

Description:

An A-V Impulse compression device was used to reduce edema.

Treatment:

Device: A-V Impulse compression