The effect of intermittent pneumatic compression on the hand after fasciectomy.

Thirty-nine patients undergoing surgery for Dupuytren's contracture were included in a fully randomised, matched, prospective trial to evaluate the effect of intermittent compression on the post-operative hand. The study revealed a definite improvement in the treated, over the control patients. There was a distinct decrease in oedema with almost immediate return to normal hand function in the group treated by compression. Other benefits accrued from the earlier subsidence of pain in treated hands requiring reduced or no analgesia and from the earlier expression of fluid discharge from the wound thus preventing haematoma formation and the consequent ills.