Thrombosis associated with physical restraints.

OBJECTIVE: Physical restraint is controversial, but still frequently used in psychiatric units. We describe two cases of thromboembolic phenomena, one with a fatal outcome, in association with physical restraint.

METHOD: The world literature on physical restraint and thrombosis was reviewed by undertaking a search of electronic databases.

RESULTS: To our knowledge, we are the first to report thrombosis associated with physical restraint.

CONCLUSION: Immobilization and trauma to the legs while restraining a patient are adequate explanations for the occurrence of thrombosis. Special attention should be paid to thrombosis when employing restraints in psychiatric wards. Further systematic research into physical restraints in psychiatry is clearly needed.