The incidence of proximal deep vein thrombosis following total knee arthroplasty in an Asian population: a Doppler ultrasound study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) following total knee arthroplasty in an Asian population.


METHODS
A prospective study of 149 consecutive cases of total knee arthroplasty done for osteoarthritis was conducted over a 5-year period. All patients underwent duplex ultrasonographic assessment of the lower limbs within the first postoperative week.


RESULTS
The incidence of proximal DVT was found to be 4.38% in this study. Symptomology was statistically significant in predicting the presence of proximal DVT in all cases. General anaesthesia was associated with a statistically significant-higher incidence of DVT as compared with regional anaesthesia. There was a significant association between a sedentary lifestyle and the development of DVT.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of proximal DVT in Asian patients after total knee arthroplasty is higher than that previously reported for this demographic group.
Nathan
S
S
Department of Orthopaedics, National University of Singapore, National University Hospital, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074.
Aleem
Md A
MA
Thiagarajan
P
P
Das De
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001208:Asia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology