title: Do not forget the distal lower limb veins in screening patients with spinal cord injuries for deep venous thromboses.
abstract: In this prospective study, we aimed to document the rate and localization of deep venous thromboses in patients with spinal cord injuries. Patients with paraplegia or tetraplegia were screened by a serial color duplex sonography protocol for deep venous thrombosis within the first 36 hours after admission, at day 7, and at day 21. Sonography was performed by a complete scan including the veins below the knee. A total of 139 patients were included (19-90 years, 63.5% male). Cumulative rate of deep venous thrombosis after 3 duplex scans was 45.3% (n = 63). In 71.4% (n = 45), thromboses were localized below the knee. Because of the relevant number of distal vein thromboses, inclusion of the calf veins during screening scans is suggested. Further studies are needed to analyze the clinical benefit of diagnosing and treating distal vein thromboses.
authors.affiliation: Medical Clinic , Cardiology and Angiology, Berufsgenossenschaftliches Universitätsklinikum Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany. alfried.germing@rub.de
authors.forename: Alfried
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Germing
authors.forename: Mahmud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schakrouf
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lindstaedt
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grewe
authors.forename: Renate
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meindl
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mügge
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014680:Veins; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult