title: Treatment of fixed flexion deformities of the knee in rheumatoid arthritis using the Flowtron intermittent compression stocking.
abstract: Thirty established fixed flexion deformities of the knee in 18 rheumatoid arthritis patients were studied prospectively to assess the results of 8 weeks of out-patient treatment using the Flowtron intermittent compression stocking. A 44% mean correction of the fixed flexion deformity was obtained from an initial mean of 29 +/- 1 degrees to 16 +/- 1 degrees (P less than 0.001). More than 85% of this correction was obtained in the first 4 weeks of treatment. There was a significant correlation between the correction obtained and the inflation pressure (P less than 0.05), but the time of daily use (minimum 60 min) was not a significant factor. The modified Stanford Health Assessment Disability Index fell from an initial mean of 2.17 to 2.03 (P less than 0.01).
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Bristol Royal Infirmary.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Majkowski
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Atkins
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications*; D001458:Bandages; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D007719:Knee Joint; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain; D011446:Prospective Studies