Ulceration of the lower leg after total knee replacement a five-year review.
Ulceration of the lower leg is considered to be a hard' clinical endpoint of venous thrombosis. Total knee replacement (TKR) is a significant risk factor for venous thrombosis of the leg and therefore potentially for ulceration. We sent a postal questionnaire to 244 patients at a minimum of five years after TKR enquiring about the development of ulceration since their TKR. The overall incidence of ulceration, both active and healed, was 8.67% which is similar to that in the age-matched general population (9.6% to 12.6%), as was the prevalence of active ulceration. We also identified no clear association between venographically-confirmed postoperative deep-venous thrombosis (DVT) and the incidence and prevalence of ulcers at five years. We suggest that after TKR DVT is not a significant risk factor for ulceration of the leg and that perioperative chemical thromboprophylaxis may not be justified on these grounds.
Muller
S D
SD
Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, the Medical School, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
Khaw
F M
FM
Morris
R
R
Crozier
A E
AE
Gregg
P J
PJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*