Evaluation of the effects of compression stockings using venous plethysmography in persons with spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect of graduated compression stockings (GCS) on the properties of the venous vascular system, as characterized by venous capacitance (VC) and venous outflow (VO), in the lower extremities of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), according to injury level.


METHODS
Nine male subjects with SCI (5 with low paraplegia [LP], 4 with high paraplegia [HP]) performed 2 plethysmography tests: with and without graduated compression knee-length stockings (pressure of 21 mm/Hg). The VC, VO, and cardiovascular parameters (heart rate and blood pressure) were evaluated with and without GCS.


RESULTS
The VC and VO were lower in patients with HP than in those with LP. For all subjects, VC was significantly lower (-14%) with GCS than without (1.77 +/- 1.18 vs 1.53 +/- 1.09 vol%, P < 0.01). On the contrary, VO did not differ significantly when wearing or not wearing GCS.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that 21-mm/Hg knee-length GCS are sufficient to prevent venous distension in individuals with SCI, even those with longstanding paraplegia, by significantly decreasing venous capacitance. This intervention may help to prevent deep vein thrombosis.
Rimaud
Diana
D
Service de Médecine Physique et de Réadaptation, Unité de Recherche Physiologie et Physiopathologie de L'exercice et Handicap, Hôpital Bellevue, CHU Saint-Etienne, Saint-Etienne 42055 Cedex 2, France. diana_rimaud@hotmail.com
Boissier
Christian
C
Calmels
Paul
P
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010991:Plethysmography / Q000379:methods; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D053828:Stockings, Compression / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014680:Veins / Q000503:physiopathology*