Elective and fractured hip patients, particularly those with comorbidities and compromised vasculature, are at greater risk of post-operative complications such as oedema which can impair local tissue perfusion and surgical wound healing¹.

The cause:

Impaired calf muscle pump function, the result of immobility and venous insufficiency, can cause ineffective venous return, resulting in the build-up of post-operative oedema which can impede oxygen delivery and surgical wound healing².

The treatment:

The geko™ device, which enhances muscle pump function to increase blood flow³, decreases the pressure difference between capillaries and the surrounding tissue, and transferring tissue fluid back into the veins and lymph vessels⁴.

The results from a Randomized Controlled Trail (RCT), comparing the effect of the geko™ device and TED stockings on post-operative oedema in Total Hip Replacement patients, reports the geko™ is more effective than TED Stockings at preventing the build-up of post-operative oedema⁵.

The geko™ device was worn post-operatively to discharge for 24 hours per day.