Year-end Sale % OFF 
Abstract
BackgroundDeep vein thrombosis (DVT) has an incidence of 1 case per 1000 inhabitants in the general population and it is very rare after arthroscopy of the shoulder. Therefore, the current guidelines do not advise the administration of DVT prophylaxis in shoulder arthroscopy procedures.Cases presentationWe describe two cases of thrombosis of the arm after shoulder arthroscopy on a total of 10.452 shoulder arthroscopies performed during a period of ten years. One of two patients was further complicated by a bilateral pulmonary microembolism. In these two clinical cases the complication developed despite the absence of risk factors such as a concomitant neoplasm, thrombophilia, smoking habit, or a long duration of the procedure.ConclusionsThe DVT after shoulder arthroscopy procedure remain a very rare complication. However, in view of the growing number of patients undergoing this procedure, this figure is expected to rise. The clinician surgeon should take in mind this possible complication that normally appears in the first 3 weeks after surgery, so to perform anti-coagulant treatment. Further clinical studies are therefore warranted to assess the true risk of VTE. In fact, the presence of "minor" predisposing factors that are not routinely studied, as well as the postoperative immobilization period, are potential risk factors that, associated with the invasiveness of the arthroscopy procedure, could trigger a thromboembolism.
Highlights
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) has an incidence of 1 case per 1000 inhabitants in the general population and it is very rare after arthroscopy of the shoulder
Further clinical studies are warranted to assess the true risk of venous thromboebolism (VTE)
We describe two cases of thrombosis of the arm after shoulder arthroscopy, observed on a total of 10.452 shoulder arthroscopy procedures performed during the period between the 1999 and 2009
Summary
The risk factors for thrombosis are the same for an upper as for a lower limb, with the exception of hormone therapy, obesity and travel, that have been shown to have no significant impact [14]. Studies in the literature advise a search for the presence of anomalous hemostasis in all patients scheduled for a shoulder arthroscopy procedure, as well as investigations of smoking habit, obesity, a neoplasm, hormone therapy, etc [18] If several of these risk factors are present it is wise to administer routine pharmacological prophylaxis for DVT but in their absence the issue poses an interesting dilemma. The technique involves lateral decubitus with the affected limb in traction, while the postoperative protocol stipulates immobilization of the joint in a sling All these reported cases had shown preoperative risk factors, as Creighton et al [22] suggested. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
