Risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in lower extremity after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in patients over 60 years old

Influence of Diabetes Mellitus on Postoperative Complications After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background and Objectives: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an effective treatment option for severe knee osteoarthritis. Understanding the impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) on postoperative outcomes is crucial for improving patient satisfaction after TKA. This study aimed to investigate the influence of DM on postoperative complications and mortality after TKA. Materials and Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis by searching relevant studies published before December 2023 in the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Medline, and Web of Science databases. The assessment included demographic data, comorbidities, and postoperative complications after primary TKA for both DM and non-DM patients. The odds ratio (OR) was used to represent the estimate of risk of a specific outcome. Results: Thirty-nine studies were finally included in this meta-analysis. Patients with DM had higher rates of periprosthetic joint infection (OR: 1.71, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.46-2.00, p < 0.01) and prosthesis revision (OR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.23-1.52, p < 0.01). Moreover, patients with DM showed an elevated incidence of pneumonia (OR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.15-2.07, p < 0.01), urinary tract infection (OR: 1.86, 95% CI: 1.07-3.26, p = 0.02), and sepsis (OR: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.46-1.78, p < 0.01). Additionally, the postoperative risk of cardiovascular (OR: 2.49, 95% CI: 1.50-4.17, p < 0.01) and cerebrovascular (OR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.48-3.81, p < 0.01) events was notably higher in patients with DM. The presence of DM increased the risk of deep vein thrombosis (OR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.22-2.04, p < 0.01), but did not lead to an increased risk of pulmonary embolism. Most importantly, DM was associated with a higher mortality rate within 30 days after TKA (OR: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.02-1.60, p = 0.03). Conclusions: Patients with DM exhibited a higher rate of postoperative complications after TKA, and DM was associated with a higher mortality rate within 30 days after TKA. It is crucial to educate patients about the perioperative risk and develop evidence-based guidelines to prevent complications after TKA.

Influence of diabetes on the risk of deep vein thrombosis of patients after total knee arthroplasty: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Previous studies evaluating the influence of diabetes on the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) showed inconsistent results. The aim of the study was to systematically evaluate the association between diabetes and DVT after TKA in a meta-analysis.

METHODS

An extensive search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science to identify relevant cohort studies. Random-effects models were employed to pool the results after taking account of the potential influence of heterogeneity.

RESULTS

Thirteen cohort studies involving 546,156 patients receiving TKA were included, with 71,110 (13.0%) diabetic patients before surgery and 1479 (2.1%) patients diagnosed as DVT after surgery. Overall, diabetes was associated with an increased risk of DVT after TKA (risk ratio [RR]: 1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12-1.84, p = 0.004; I2 = 44%). Sensitivity analysis limited to studies with chemoprophylaxis (RR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.50-2.54), and studies with multivariate analysis (RR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.12-2.11) showed consistent results. Subgroup analysis showed that diabetes was associated with higher risk of postoperative DVT in Asian countries (RR: 1.93, 95% CI: 1.49-2.52, p < 0.001; I2 = 1%) but not in Western countries (RR: 1.07, 95% CI: 0.86-1.34, p = 0.52; I2 = 0%; p for subgroup difference < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Diabetes may be a risk factor for DVT after TKA, even with the chemoprophylaxis of anticoagulants. The association between diabetes and DVT after TKA may be more remarkable in patients from Asian countries.