[Health Lecture] Fracture recovery in progress - How much do you know about thrombosis prevention

After fracture surgery, the body is like a boat that has experienced a "storm" and needs careful care to get back on track. And blood clots are like reefs hidden in the dark, which may make the road to recovery bumpy at any time. Understanding how to prevent blood clots is a must for every patient who has undergone fracture surgery.

Why do blood clots target patients after fracture surgery?

When a fracture occurs, especially after surgery, the body will initiate a series of complex physiological reactions to repair the trauma. However, these reactions also put the blood in a relatively hypercoagulable state. At the same time, postoperative patients often greatly reduce lower limb activity due to wound pain, physical weakness and other reasons, which weakens the contraction function of the lower limb muscles and makes blood flow slow and sluggish, thus providing a breeding ground for the formation of blood clots. Especially the deep veins of the lower limbs, because they are far away from the heart, the return power is relatively weak. In this case, coagulation substances such as platelets are more likely to aggregate and adhere, gradually forming blood clots, blocking blood vessels, affecting blood circulation, and even causing life-threatening complications such as pulmonary embolism in severe cases. What are some "tips" to prevent thrombosis?

1. Basic prevention is the key

1. Move as soon as possible after surgery: After evaluation by doctors and therapists, actively carry out rehabilitation training. In the early stage, ankle pump exercises can be carried out, flexing and extending the ankle joint with force, just like stepping on the brakes and the accelerator, holding for 5 seconds each time, 20 times per set, and practicing several times a day to promote blood circulation, so that blood can continue to flow and avoid congestion in the blood vessels.

1. Drink plenty of water: Ensure adequate water intake every day, 1500-2000 ml is appropriate. Water can dilute the blood, reduce blood viscosity, keep the blood relatively diluted, avoid increased blood viscosity due to lack of water, and reduce the chance of thrombosis.

1. Wear anti-thrombotic compression stockings: This is like putting on a layer of "tight guard" for your legs. The pressure gradually decreases from the ankles to the thighs, helping to promote blood return in the lower limbs and relieve blood congestion. But you need to pay attention to choosing the right size and wearing it in the right way.

2. Intermittent pneumatic pressurization device: The instrument periodically inflates and pressurizes the lower limbs to simulate muscle contraction, promote blood flow, and "refuel" the blood in the blood vessels, allowing it to move forward smoothly and avoid stagnation and thrombosis.

Doctors will prescribe anticoagulants, such as low molecular weight heparin, based on the patient's specific situation. These drugs act as "scavengers" in the blood, inhibiting the activity of coagulation factors and preventing excessive blood coagulation. However, drug prevention must be carried out under the strict guidance of a doctor and taken on time and in the prescribed dosage. Do not increase or decrease the dosage or stop taking the drug on your own to avoid adverse reactions such as bleeding.

During medication, you should learn to pay attention to the monitoring of bleeding, such as bleeding spots, ecchymoses, subcutaneous hematomas, gingival bleeding, black stools, etc. If the above conditions occur , seek medical attention in time.

1. Avoid sitting or lying down for long periods of time: change your body position regularly. Even if you are resting in bed, you can move your legs frequently to avoid maintaining the same posture for a long time to prevent the blood from "sleeping" in a certain area and clotting. 2. Eat a balanced diet: in terms of diet, reduce the intake of high-fat and high-cholesterol foods, eat more fresh vegetables, fruits and foods rich in dietary fiber, which will help maintain the health of blood vessels and provide a good "channel environment" for blood flow. The road to recovery after fracture surgery may be full of challenges, but as long as we attach great importance to the prevention of thrombosis and actively take scientific and effective measures, from rehabilitation exercises, physical prevention, drug treatment to all-round control of life details, we can build a solid line of defense for the body's recovery, avoid the threat of thrombosis, and steadily move towards a new starting point for a healthy life. References:

[1] Li Hua, Guo Lanying, Yang Yanhua. Analysis of the preventive nursing effect of deep vein thrombosis in lower limbs in patients after fracture surgery[J]. Chinese and Foreign Medical Treatment, 2024, 43(34): 151-154. DOI: 10.16662/j.cnki.1674-0742.2024.34.151.

[2] Peng Xiaoyu. Ankle pump exercise: promoting blood return to prevent deep vein thrombosis after lower limb fracture surgery in the elderly [N]. Medical Health Care News, 2024-09-17 (004).

[3] Huang Xiaoqin, Ji Chunhui, Jin Hongyan, et al. Effect of ankle pump motion counter on preventing deep vein thrombosis in lower limbs in elderly patients after fracture surgery [J]. Nursing and Rehabilitation, 2024, 23 (08): 51-54+61.

[4] Meng Xian, Liang Junni. Clinical value of nursing intervention in preventing venous thrombosis in bedridden patients after traumatic fracture surgery [C]// Yulin Medical Association. Proceedings of the Fifth National Medical Research Forum (V). Nanjing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital;, 2024: 5. DOI:10.26914/c.cnkihy.2024.018320.

[5] He Xiaolan, Gao Zhilai, Zheng Qing, et al. Effect of pneumatic pump combined with nursing intervention on the prevention of deep vein thrombosis in lower limbs in elderly patients after femoral fracture surgery [J]. Heilongjiang Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2024, 53 (02): 286-288.

[6] Chen Si. Nursing knowledge for preventing deep vein thrombosis of lower limbs after hip fracture surgery[J]. Everyone's Health, 2023, (34): 112-113.

Article author: Wang Yujuan, Li Yiwen, Shen Hua

Author's unit: Shanghai Tongren Hospital

About the first author

Wang Yujuan, head nurse, bachelor’s degree, nurse in the Rehabilitation Department of Shanghai Tongren Hospital, mainly engaged in rehabilitation clinical nursing work.