A review of thigh-length vs knee-length antiembolism stockings

Knee-length and thigh-length antiembolism (AE) stockings are used to prevent deep vein thrombosis in medical and surgical patients who are at risk because of periods of immobilization while in hospital. The aim of this review was to compare the effectiveness of both lengths of stocking and consider the implications for nursing practice. An electronic search was performed using Medline and Cinahl and a hand search was also conducted. Four studies and a literature review were selected. These studies indicated that knee-length AE stockings were equally effective as were associated with better patient compliance and were more cost-effective than thigh-length stockings. However, as with thigh-length stockings, they require accurate measurement and correct fitting if associated complications are to be avoided, highlighting the need for better education for both practitioners and patients.