Objective  To explore the clinical efficacy of air pressure pump combined with low molecular weight heparin in preventing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after operation for hip fracture.

  Methods  Totally 231 patients with hip fracture were randomly divided into two groups. Group A (n=122) was treated with air pressure pump combined with low molecular weight heparin, while group B (n=109) was treated with blood-activating drugs alone. The proportion of patients with abnormal D-dimer level and coagulation index after operation were compared between the two groups. The time of getting out of bed, hospitalization time, incidence rate of deep vein thrombosis of lower limbs and incidence rate of postoperative infection were compared between the two groups.

  Results  There were 10 cases (8.20%) with abdominal D-dimer level in group A and 18 cases (16.50%) in group B, and there was significant difference between two groups (P=0.01). There were 18 cases (14.80%) with abdominal coagulation time in group A and 15 cases (13.80%) in group B, and there was no significant difference between two groups (P=0.89). There were 5 cases (4.10%) of DVT in group A and 13 cases (11.90%) in group B, the hospitalization time in group A was shorter than that in group B, and there were significant differences between two groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

  Conclusion  Air pressure pump combined with low molecular weight heparin can reduce the incidence of DVT and promote recovery of patients.