Intermittent pneumatic compression in fracture and soft-tissue injuries healing.
BACKGROUND
Current methods of fracture care use various adjuncts to try and decrease time to fracture union, improve fracture union rates and enhance functional recovery. Intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC), one such modality, is used in the management of both fractures and soft-tissue injuries.


RESULTS
A search of PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, DH data and Embase databases was performed using the following keywords 'intermittent pneumatic compression', 'fracture healing' and 'soft tissue healing'. Sixteen studies on the use of IPC in fracture and soft-tissue healing were identified. These studies demonstrated that IPC facilitates both fracture and soft-tissue healing with rapid functional recovery.


CONCLUSIONS
IPC appears to be an effective modality to enhance fracture and soft-tissue healing. However, the number of subjects in human studies is small, and adequately powered randomized controlled trials in humans are required to produce stronger clinically relevant evidence.
Khanna
Anil
A
Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Keele University School of Medicine, Thornburrow Drive, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, ST47QB Staffs, UK.
Gougoulias
Nikolaos
N
Maffulli
Nicola
N
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D015519:Bone Density; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D048228:Intermittent Pneumatic Compression Devices / Q000592:standards*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*