Effect of ‘bedside ankle active exercise monitoring device’ as an aid in the prevention of deep vein thrombosis among post- surgical geriatric population

Abstract

Background
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) with venous stasis is a serious complication in patients with a history of major lower extremity surgery. The elderly are in greatest jeopardy. DVT in rehabilitation setting can delay functional recovery .Encouraging the active movements of the leg pre and post operatively is an important role for physiotherapist. The most common prophylaxis method used to prevent DVT and to reduce the risk of pulmonary embolism is ankle exercise. Researchers have found that augmented information or feedback is effective in motivation and learning. There is a lack of devices which could be used in the field of DVT prophylaxis involving active exercises for bedridden patients providing augmented information and feedback both to the patients as well as to the rehabilitation team. This lead to the conceiving of a new simple “Bed Side Ankle active exercise monitoring device” (Ankle Plantar Flexion Dorsi flexion movement monitoring device), Which would be of help in monitoring the ankle exercise protocols.
Nair Mahesh Sukumaran Sudish, co-author was Granted Patent for Ankle Dorsiflexion-Plantar Flexion Active Movement Monitoring device published by Indian Patent Office on 07/08/2015 U/S 43(2) of The Indian Patent Act, Indian Patent News, # India Patent. According to the controller of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks Ankle Dorsiflexion-Plantar Flexion Active Movement Monitoring device is helpful for the patient as well as the medical and paramedical staff.
Aim
The study is to investigate the effect of ankle active exercise monitoring device as an aid in the prevention of DVT when used as an adjunct to conventional ankle exercise among Post-surgical geriatric population.Methodology
The Population includes post –surgical, hospital stay geriatric patients who underwent open reduction internal fixation of Garden?s classification, Type 2 Neck of femur fracture (non- displaced). A total of 30 patients satisfying the criteria, sampled into two groups of 15 each using convenient sampling. Group A is control group and Group B is experimental group. Prophylactic treatment period begins wright after the surgical procedure for both control and experimental group, as soon as the spinal anesthetic wears off. Duration of prophylactic treatment was for the period during hospital stay of each patient (07 days).The patients were assessed every day during the period of study for any signs and symptoms of DVT using Wells probability scale. The outcome measurement was taken using Doppler Ultrasonography (Color flow duplex scanning) for the identification of DVT if any. The Group A receives Conventional physiotherapy. The Group B receives Ankle Active Movement Monitoring device and Conventional physiotherapy. Statistical analysis used was Chi-square test.
Result
26.67% of the patients in control group are diagnosed to have DVT in Ultrasound scan results. Whereas none of the patients in Experimental group showed any symptoms of DVT in Ultrasound scan results. Statistical analysis of the post Ultrasound scan result showed =4.6154 (p<0.05). Which shows bedside ankle active movement monitoring device has significantly reduces symptoms of DVT.
Conclusion
„Bedside ankle active exercise monitoring device? is effective as an aid in the prevention of DVT among post-surgical geriatric population. The device is significantly effective as an aid for performing active ankle exercise for the prevention of DVT in abdominal, Pelvic, Extremity, Cardiac and Pulmonary surgeries. This device could be of assistance for the bedridden risk group also.