TITLE:
Effectiveness of Compressive Stockings Utilization in the Management of Post-Operative Swelling for Ankle Fractures in a Teaching Hospital in Ghana
AUTHORS:
Bernard Hammond, Kwadwo Aning Abu, David Anyittey-Kokor, Paa Kwesi Baidoo, Michael Leat, Ronald Awoonor-Williams, Adwoa Afriyie Wilson, Dominic Konadu-Yeboah, Senyo Gudugbe, Kizito Kakra Vormawor, Mohammed Issah Suglo Bukari, Joshua Tei Shiako, Emmanuel Ansah Owusu
KEYWORDS:
Ankle-Fractures, Postoperative-Swelling, Functional-Outcomes, Compressive-Stocking, ORIF
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Orthopedics,
Vol.14 No.12,
December
31,
2024
ABSTRACT: Background: Post-operative swelling following open reduction and internal fixation for ankle fracture is a common complication that delays return to function. Compressive stockings have been employed in most centres in Africa to help resolve such complications but there is a dearth of information regarding its clinical effectiveness. Therefore, this study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of compressive stockings in the management of post-operative ankle swelling. Methodology: A prospective cohort hospital-based study was employed in the present study to assess the effectiveness of compressive stocking in reducing post-op swelling following ORIF for ankle fractures compared to a control group who had no compressive stocking using a convenient sampling method. Data collected include age, sex, and ankle circumference at 2, 6 and 12 weeks post op. Based on the x-rays, the ankle fractures were categorized according to the Lauge-Hansen classification. Student t-test was used in all statistical analyses p-value Results: A total of 85 patients (40 test and 45 control) including 54% males and 46% females between the ages of 18 - 78 years with a mean age of 44.8 + 14.9 years were recruited for the present study. The most common fracture pattern was supination external rotation (74.1%). Post op swelling was significantly lower in the compressive stocking group compared to the control group at 6 weeks [0.53 cm (95% CI: 0.05 - 1.01), p Conclusion: Compressive stocking can be used effectively to reduce post op swelling following open reduction and internal fixation for ankle fractures.