A COMPARISON OF INTERMITTENT CALF COMPRESSION AND ENOXAPARIN FOR THROMBOPROPHYLAXIS IN TOTAL HIP-REPLACEMENT - A PILOT-STUDY

A prospective randomised trial was carried comparing the use of Enoxap arin with intermittent pneumatic calf compression garments for thrombo prophylaxis in total hip replacement. Fifty consecutive patients were studied and randomised to evaluate these two methods. There were 2 dee p vein thromboses, one in each group, and no cases of pulmonary emboli sm. The operative field was judged to be drier in the compression grou p, but the mean fall in the postoperative haemoglobin level was the sa me in each. In the pet-operative period, 6 patients in the Enoxaparin group needed 2 units of blood and one 3 units. In the compression grou p, 3 patients needed transfusions of 2 units. Intermittent calf compre ssion has fewer problems than the use of Enoxaparin and has no contrai ndications.