Wound complications after hip surgery using a tapeless compressive support.

Purpose: To compare the incidence of wound complications after hip surgery in patients treated with a compressive spica wrap dressing to those using traditional taping methods.

Design: Retrospective, descriptive, comparative, intervention study.

Sample: 457 hip surgery patients, including primary arthroplasty, revision surgery and fracture with ORIF.

Method: A compressive wrap dressing was used on hip surgery patients in the study group while tape was used on patients in the control group. A retrospective chart review was conducted noting postoperative wound complications.

Findings: There was a significantly lower incidence of blisters and drainage in the study group using a compressive wrap dressing. There was not a higher incidence of DVT or infection using the wrap dressing when compared to published studies.

Conclusion: Use of a compressive wrap dressing after hip surgery is recommended to reduce the risk of wound complications.

Implications For Nursing Research: A prospective, randomized study with multiple surgeons using both compressive wraps and traditional taping techniques would substantiate the advantage of using a hip spica dressing after hip surgery.