INTERMITTENT IMPULSE COMPRESSION - A NEW METHOD OF REDUCING POSTTRAUMATIC AND POSTOPERATIVE EDEMA

In patients with foot and ankle trauma, surgery and postoperative mobi lization are often delayed because of swelling. The aim of this study was to assess if intermittent impulse compression of the foot is bette r than the standard therapy of applying cool packs at intervals. For i ntermittent impulse compression the AV impulse device was used (Novame dix Inc.). From May to November 1993, 40 patients (20 ankle fractures, 8 ruptured ligaments, 6 calcaneal fractures, 4 distal tibial fracture s, 1 talus fracture, 1 subtalar dislocation) were prospectively assign ed at random to the two groups and treated. After 24 h of treatment, t he patients with intermittent impulse compression of the foot showed a n average reduction of swelling of 47 % around the an kle, midfoot and forefoot. With cryothreapy it was 17 %. After 4 days of treatment in the postoperative course the swelling subsided at a rate of 74 % with impulse compression and 45 % with cryotherapy. Intermittent impulse co mpression of the foot proved to be a highly effective method of treati ng post-traumatic and postoperative edema. It seems preferable to the standard therapy using cold packs.