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.