[Deep vein thrombosis following total arthroplasty hip replacement. Ultrasonographic screening in the rehabilitation phase].
Deep vein thrombosis requires intensive therapy--either the patients require hospitalisation or their rehabilitation scheme must be adjusted and medical treatment applied. The total number of patients with deep vein thrombosis undetected before admission to rehabilitation facilities is unknown.


OBJECTIVE
Study parameters: 1. The occurrence of undetected deep vein thrombosis upon admittance to a rehabilitation facility. 2. The value of sonography in diagnosing, localising and determining the extent of deep vein thrombosis and 3. the influence of prophylactic antithrombotic treatment applied in the surgical hospital, as well as during the intermittent outpatient phase before admittance to the rehabilitation centre, on the occurrence of deep vein thrombosis.


METHODS
305 patients were examined between Nov. 95 and Dec. 96. The first check was carried out on the day of admission (on the 26th postoperative day, on average). The second check was done on the day of discharge from the rehabilitation centre.


RESULTS
Deep vein thrombosis was found in 30 patients (10%). In 27 cases the thrombosis was located in the thigh, in one case it was found in the contralateral leg. 18 of these patients had been discharged from the surgical hospital on the 22nd postoperative day, for an average time of 7 days of outpatient care, before being admitted to the rehabilitation centre. 11 of these patients had not received any prophylactic antithrombotic treatment. One patient developed deep vein thrombosis of the thigh during the rehabilitation phase despite of prophylactic treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Postoperative sonographic screening of all patients undergoing hip surgery is a useful method to detect deep vein thrombosis. Prophylactic postoperative antithrombotic treatment in the rehabilitation phase is mandatory.
Tomaszewski
A
A
Reha-Zentrum Gyhum, Klinik für Chirurgie und Orthopädie.
Kohl
M
M
Koszczol
P
P
D000368:Aged; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006622:Hip Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control