Evaluation of the effects of compression stockings using venous plethysmography in persons with spinal cord injury.

Background/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.