Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41024203›Full record

SynthesisJournal of orthopaedic surgery and research2025

Effect of postoperative ankle pump exercises on the prevention of deep vein thrombosis and venous hemodynamics following lower limb orthopedic surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Xike Liu, Hong Hu, Ling Jin, Qian Lin, Pengfei Liu, Neng Li, Ziyuan Chen

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Xike LiuDepartment of Bone and Joint Department, Orthopedic Center, Changde Hospital, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, (The first people's hospital of Changde city), Changde, China.
Hong HuDepartment of Bone and Joint Department, Orthopedic Center, Changde Hospital, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, (The first people's hospital of Changde city), Changde, China.
Ling JinDepartment of Neurology, Changde Hospital, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, (The first people's hospital of Changde city), Changde, China.
Qian LinDepartment of Bone and Joint Department, Orthopedic Center, Changde Hospital, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, (The first people's hospital of Changde city), Changde, China.
Pengfei LiuDepartment of Bone and Joint Department, Orthopedic Center, Changde Hospital, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, (The first people's hospital of Changde city), Changde, China.
Neng LiDepartment of Bone and Joint Department, Orthopedic Center, Changde Hospital, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, (The first people's hospital of Changde city), Changde, China.
Ziyuan ChenDepartment of Bone and Joint Department, Orthopedic Center, Changde Hospital, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, (The first people's hospital of Changde city), Changde, China. 781893912@qq.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDeep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common and serious complication following lower limb orthopaedic surgery. Early ankle pump exercises may promote venous return, reduce limb swelling, and lower the incidence of postoperative DVT. However, the efficacy of such interventions remains inconsistently reported. The aim of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the effects of preoperative and postoperative ankle pump training on DVT incidence and venous haemodynamic parameters, such as maximum venous outflow (MVO) and maximum venous capacity (MVC).

methodsA systematic Literature search was performed across multiple databases up to July 2025 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared ankle pump exercises with standard care in patients undergoing lower limb orthopaedic surgery. Data were pooled using a fixed-effects model. The outcomes included the incidence of DVT (odds ratio (OR)), MVO, and MVC (standardized mean difference (SMD)). Heterogeneity was assessed using the I

resultsA total of 16 RCTs involving 1,704 patients (intervention: n = 889; control: n = 815) were included. Compared with routine care, ankle pump exercises significantly reduced the incidence of DVT (OR = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.20-0.37, p < 0.001; I

conclusionsThis meta-analysis provides Level I evidence that ankle pump exercises significantly reduce the incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and increase venous haemodynamic parameters-specifically maximum venous outflow (MVO) and maximum venous capacity (MVC)-in patients undergoing lower limb orthopaedic surgery. These findings support the integration of ankle pump exercises into routine postoperative care as an effective, noninvasive strategy to mitigate DVT risk and promote venous return.

Indexed as

AnkleExercise TherapyLower ExtremityOrthopedic ProceduresPostoperative CarePostoperative ComplicationsVenous ThrombosisHemodynamicsHumansIncidenceRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicAnkle pump exercisesDeep vein thrombosisMeta-analysisMVCMVO

Identifiers

PMID41024203
PMCPMC12482818

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.