To investigate the effects of a novel ankle pump exercise monitor with realtime monitoring and feedback functions on the prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in elderly patients after hip fracture surgery.

A total of 120 elderly patients aged ≥60 years with hip fractures who were treated in the orthopedic department of a tertiary hospital in Zhejiang Province from January to December 2022 were enrolled using convenience sampling. The patients were divided into two groups by a random number table and were further divided into two subgroups according to surgical procedure (hip replacement versus intramedullary nailing). Both groups received routine postoperative care. The control group performed ankle pump exercises under the supervision of nurses, while the intervention group used the novel ankle pump exercise monitor with realtime monitoring and feedback functions to guide their training. The exercise training compliance rates were compared between the two groups during the intervention. D-dimer levels, and femoral and popliteal vein diameters and flow velocities were compared between the two groups at baseline and on day 7 after intervention. In addition, the increase in thigh circumference of the affected limb from baseline to day 7 was also compared between the two groups. Chisquare test or Fisher's exact test was used to compare the categorical data, and MannWhitney U test was used to compare the continuous data.

No statistically significant difference in the ankle pump exercise achievement rate was observed between the two groups on day 1 of intervention (χ²=0.323, P > 0.05). In contrast, the intervention group showed significantly higher ankle pump exercise achievement rates than the control group at day 3 and 7 postintervention (χ²=22.500, 30.531; P < 0.01). At baseline, no statistically significant differences were observed in any of the measured parameters between the two groups (P > 0.05). After intervention, the intervention group demonstrated significantly improved D-dimer levels, femoral and popliteal vein blood flow velocities, and popliteal vein diameter compared with the control group (Z=2.129, 2.141, 4.627, 2.655; P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Regardless of whether patients underwent hip arthroplasty or intramedullary nailing, the intervention group demonstrated significantly improved D-dimer levels, femoral and popliteal vein blood flow velocities, and popliteal vein diameter compared with the control group after intervention (Z=2.031, 2.114, 3.987, 2.521; 2.118, 2.087, 3.654, 2.612; P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

The novel ankle pump exercise monitor significantly enhances postoperative ankle pump exercise adherence, accelerates lower limb venous blood flow, reduces D-dimer levels, and decreases limb edema, showing good efficacy in preventing deep vein thrombosis in elderly hip fracture patients.