Muscular strain as a factor in post-operative thrombosis in the deep veins of the calf

A clinical trial designed to test the relative value of two simple methods of reducing the risk of venous stasis in the lower limbs during surgical operations, the danger of thrombosis, and a subsequent pulmonary embolus, with a survey of the problem

“…-Hobsley and Patey (1962) have complained that it is difficult to assess the value of prophylactic measures against postoperative deep-vein thrombosis because, judged clinically, as in the present clinical trial, the frequency of the complication is not high enough to make the beneficial result of a particular measure unambiguous and self-evident. The expectation of a self-evident solution to a problem is a legacy from Baconian empiricism, a method to which scientist paid lip-service long after they had abandoned it in practice as fallacious.…”

Deep vein thrombosis

“…Confusion arises largely because of the different diagnostic standards used, particularly in early cases, the difficulty of obtaining control series, and the infrequency of the condition. The value of prophylactic measures are difficult to assess against a natural incidence of less than 5%/ (Hobsley & Patey, 1962).…”