Is the Oral Chemical Prophylaxis Necessary for the Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism after Joint Arthroplasty in a Korean Population?

Incidence of Venous Thromboembolism after Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty with Mechanical Prophylaxis in Hong Kong Chinese

Purpose

The incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) following total hip arthroplasty (THA) without chemoprophylaxis could be as high as 50% in Caucasians. However, according to several subsequent studies, the incidence of venous thromboembolic events (VTE) in Asians was much lower. The routine use of chemoprophylaxis, which could potentially cause increased bleeding, infection, and wound complications, has been questioned in low-incidence populations. The objective of this study is to determine the incidence of VTE after primary THA without chemoprophylaxis in an Asian population using a fast-track rehabilitation protocol and to verify the safety profile for use of 'mechanical prophylaxis alone' in patients with standard risk of VTE.

Materials and Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study of 542 Hong Kong Chinese patients who underwent primary THA without chemoprophylaxis. All patients received intermittent pneumatic compression and graduated compression stockings as mechanical prophylaxis. Multimodal pain management was applied in order to facilitate early mobilisation. Routine duplex ultrasonography was performed between the fourth and seventh postoperative day for detection of proximal DVT.

Results

All patients were Chinese (mean age, 63.0±11.9 years). Six patients developed proximal DVT (incidence rate, 1.1%). None of the patients had symptomatic or fatal pulmonary embolism.

Conclusion

The incidence of VTE after primary THA without chemical prophylaxis can be low in Asian populations when following a fast-track rehabilitation protocol. Mechanical prophylaxis alone can be regarded as a reasonably safe practice in terms of a balanced benefit-to-risk ratio for Asian patients with standard risk of VTE.

Prevalence of Venous Thromboembolism after Immediate Screening in Hip Fracture Patients

Purpose

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major complication for hip fracture patients, and may exist preoperatively. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of VTE after immediate screening in hip fracture patients.

Materials and Methods

Hip fracture patients with an elevated level of D-dimer underwent screening for VTE using computed tomography (CT) angiography. Anticoagulation treatments were administered preoperatively to patients diagnosed with VTE, followed by administration of additional anticoagulation postoperatively. Medical records were reviewed to identify risk factors for preoperative VTE and determine the prognosis of the patients.

Results

Among 524 hip fracture patients, 66 patients (12.6%) were diagnosed with VTE, including 42 patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), 17 patients with pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE), and 7 patients with both DVT and PTE. Of the patients with VTE, 68.2% were diagnosed within 24 hours of injury, and 33.3% of these patients had PTE. VTE patients showed a tendency toward being overweight (P<0.01) and not on anticoagulant medication (P=0.02) compared to patients without VTE. The risk of VTE was higher for femur shaft fractures (odds ratio [OR] 4.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.18-10.69) and overweight patients (OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.17-3.85), and lower for patients who were previously on anticoagulants (OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.18-0.74). Patients with preoperatively diagnosed VTE were asymptomatic before and after surgery.

Conclusion

Clinicians should be aware that VTE may be present within 24 hours of injury, and screening for VTE or prophylactic measures should be considered for high-risk patients.

Is the May-Thurner Syndrome a Major Risk Factor for Deep Vein Thrombosis in Total Hip Arthroplasty?

Background

May-Thurner syndrome (MTS) is iliac vein compression syndrome associated with postoperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) resulting from chronic compression of the left iliac vein against lumbar vertebrae by the overlying right or left common iliac artery. MTS is not well known as a risk factor for DVT after total hip arthroplasty (THA). We evaluated the incidence of DVT after THA and analyzed if the MTS is a risk factor for DVT after THA. We hypothesized that MTS would be associated with an increased risk of developing DVT after THA.

Methods

All patients > 65 years of age who underwent THA between January 1, 2009, and January 12, 2017, were identified. Among them, the patients who presented for postoperative DVT of the lower extremity were reviewed with medical record data. MTS was diagnosed with computed tomography (CT) angiography of the lower extremity. We analyzed the demographic data, symptoms, diagnoses, and treatment of MTS patients.

Results

A total of 492 consecutive patients aged > 65 years who underwent operation for THA were enrolled. Among them, 5 patients (1.0%) presented for postoperative DVT of the lower extremity. After reviewing the CT angiography of the lower extremity, 4 out of 5 DVT patients (80%) were identified as having MTS. All MTS patients were female and presented with pain and swelling of the left leg. All MTS patients were treated with systemic anticoagulation, aspiration thrombectomy, and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. Complete resolution of thrombus was observed in all patients.

Conclusions

If the diagnosis of MTS is delayed, the morbidity and mortality rates are significantly increased. Orthopedic surgeons should be aware of MTS as a risk factor for DVT after THA. Moreover, preoperative evaluation with duplex sonography or CT angiography to confirm MTS should be considered. In this regard, this study is considered to have sufficient clinical value for early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of MTS after THA.

EFFECTIVENESS OF DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS PREVENTION IN TOTAL HIP ARTHROPLASTY

OBJECTIVE

To determine the efficacy of Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis protocol in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA), and to verify differences in the rates of this complication when comparing primary replacement surgeries with revision surgeries.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study of patients operated between 2012 and 2018, with inclusion and non-inclusion criteria determined by the researchers. A protocol was created to compile data including 92 patients, amounting to 110 operated hips, divided by gender, age, laterality, among other criteria. For THA cases, low molecular weight heparin chemoprophylaxis was used, associated with the use of pneumatic and elastic compression, concomitant to deambulation as soon as possible. The detection of DVT was determined by clinical evaluation and imaging exams such as: simple radiographs, ultrasound, arterial and venous color doppler, and laboratory tests.

RESULTS

The use of the protocol was very effective in our study. Only one (1.09%) case of deep venous thrombosis was found.

CONCLUSION

The use of thromboprophylaxis for DVT is indispensable, as was clearly demonstrated by these cases. We observed only one (1.09%) case of DVT in our series. Level of Evidence III, Retrospective Study.