Clinical profile of patients on DVT prophylaxis undergoing major lower limb orthopedic surgeries

Abstract

It has been known for a long time that clinical symptoms and signs are of little help in the diagnosis of venous thrombosis of the legs because they lack both sensitivity and specificity. This applies to calf tenderness, pain on dorsiflexion of the foot (the Homan's sign), increased skin temperature, ankle and calf edema, and superficial venous dilatation. Contrast venography, the first objective test and still the gold standard in the diagnosis of venous thrombosis. This clinical prospective study on Efficacy of Enoxaparin as a Thromboprophylactic agent in major lower limb orthopedic surgeries was conducted in department of Orthopedics. During the study period, 180 patients undergoing Surgeries for fracture around hip, femur fracture surgery, patients undergoing Hip and Knee Arthroplasty were given prophylaxis for DVT.A prior consent was obtained from all the patients and the study was approved by the Ethical Committee of the Hospital. The Youngest patient in this study was 20 years and oldest 85 years of age. The average age being 54 years.43.3% of patients were 60 and above, 21.11% between 50-59, 16.11% between 40-49, 9.44% between 30-39 and 10% between 20-29 years of age. Indications for Hemiarthroplasties were fracture neck of femur in forty two cases. Total Hip Replacement was done in six cases, three of them had avascular necrosis of head of femur and three of them had secondary arthritis of hip. Total Knee Replacement for primary osteoarthritis was done in twenty four cases.