1^st author and title

Country, study design, setting, and sample sizes

Design

Outcomes

Results

Wisham (1953) MD

USA, N = 29, arterial disease of lower extremities patients, intermittent claudication of varying degree but no gangrene, at vascular clinic.

Pre-post control group

Blood flow (Na²⁴ clearance rate (%)

EG: # 17% - 84%,

CG: # 33% - 114%

Bjerre-Jepsen

(1984) MD

Denmark, N = 14, severe leg ischemia due to occlusive arterial disease; All patients had severe rest pain, at surgery unit

Design: RCT, pre-post

Subcutaneous blood flow (¹³³Xe washout rate)

Measures: NaI (Te)

NS

Wu (1996)

PT

Taiwan, N = 30, peripheral arterial insufficiency patients, 18 patients had ulceration and/or gangrene, at vascular clinic

Pre-post control group

Skin temperature, blood flux, walking time

Blood flux (p < 0.05), walking time (p < 0.05)

Fan (2005)

MD

China, N = 60, arteriosclerosis obliterans patients, at medicine unit

Prospective control group

Foot necrosis periods

Foot necrosis periods (p < 0.01)

Ou (2006)

RN

China, N = 233, Gynecology patients postoperative, at gynecology unit

Design: RCT, post

Hemorheology, swelling, pain

Hemorheology (p < 0.01)

Zhu (2006)

RN

China, N = 96, low limb trauma patients, at orthopedic unit

Design: RCT, post

Pain, swelling, cyanosis, bed rest

Pain (p < 0.01), swelling (p < 0.01), cyanosis (p < 0.01),

bed rest times (p < 0.05)

Guan (2007)

RN

China, N = 30, above knee fracture after internal fixation patients, at orthopedic unit

Design: RCT, post

Pain, cyanosis, swelling

Pain (p < 0.005), cyanosis (p < 0.005), swelling (p < 0.005)

Jiang (2009)

RN

China, N = 60, lower limb fractures patients post-surgery, at orthopedic unit

RCT, pre-post

Pain, swelling

Pain (p < 0.01), swelling (p < 0.01)

Zhang (2009)

RN

China, N = 40, multiple fractures patients in low extremities after internal fixation, at orthopedic unit

RCT, post

Hemorheology, ^*HBV, LBV, PCV

After surgery 14^th, 21^st and 28^th day (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.001)