title: Deep vein thrombosis after major spinal surgery: incidence in an East Asian population.
abstract: METHODS
  A prospective study of 313 patients who underwent major spinal surgery.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the incidence of deep vein thrombosis after major spinal surgery in an east Asian population without antithrombotic prophylaxis.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Spinal surgery has been associated with few thrombotic complications (2-14%) compared with other reconstructive surgeries (20-70%). It has also been well documented that the incidence of deep vein thrombosis in east Asians (10%) is lower than in westerners (20-70%) in total joint replacements. There has been no previous report on the incidence of deep vein thrombosis after reconstructive spinal surgery in east Asians.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred thirteen patients who underwent major spinal surgery were evaluated prospectively. All patients were examined with duplex ultrasonography assessments of both lower extremities. No specific antithrombotic prophylaxis were used in any patients before or after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were four patients with positive findings of deep vein thrombosis on duplex ultrasonography, and there was only one with clinically symptomatic deep vein thrombosis. The overall incidence of thrombotic complications was 1.3%, and the incidence of symptomatic deep vein thrombosis was 0.3%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering the low rate of deep vein thrombosis, routine screening and prophylaxis for deep vein thrombosis appears unwarranted in east Asians before or after major spinal surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. hwanlee@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Suk
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013131:Spine / Q000601:surgery*; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control