I advise the patients to wear compression stockings commonly called “TED stockings” till the swelling in the extremity has completely subsided. There are two types of anti-embolism stocking available after hip replacement surgery- below knee and above knee. The patients are encouraged to wear stockings to decrease the swelling and to decrease the risk of blood clots after the surgery.
If the patients are wearing above knee stockings, it is important to make sure that the stockings are worn properly. For above knee stockings it is important to make sure that the stocking does not roll behind knees and compress the soft tissues around the knee, which will actually cause stagnation of blood and may increase the risk of blood clots.