title: Clinical outcomes of patients with non-fatal VTE after total knee arthroplasty.
abstract: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) continues to be one of the most important, and highly controversial, topics in orthopaedics. While many surgeons have discussed the incidence and treatment of this potentially life-threatening complication, little has been published about the clinical outcomes of patients who receive treatment and recover from these conditions. We evaluated the clinical outcomes of patients who suffered non-fatal VTE and compared them to a matched cohort with no complications after total knee arthroplasty using our institution's joint arthroplasty registry. At two years, the patient-reported clinical outcomes were equivalent between the groups. While VTE remains an important consideration in total knee arthroplasty, it is helpful for surgeons to know that patient outcomes are not negatively affected after appropriate treatment of these complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Division of Adult Reconstruction and Joint Replacement Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Ast
authors.forename: Alexandra H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Gorab
authors.forename: Trevor R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Banka
authors.forename: Lily
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lyman
authors.forename: Geoffrey H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Westrich
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy
keywords: DVT; PE; VTE; complications; total knee arthroplasty