Abstract
Background: Venous thromboembolism is an important and potentially a fatal complication if not suspected and treated promptly. Various diagnostic modalities are available to detect Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), but each has its merits and demerits. Compression ultrasonography is a non-invasive method to diagnose DVT. This study was undertaken to evaluate the incidence of DVT using compression ultrasonography in the patients who underwent surgery of the spine and long bones of lower extremity following trauma. Material & Methods: All patients who underwent surgery following trauma to the spine and long bones of lower extremity were screened using Venous B-mode ultrasonography and color Doppler imaging. None of the patients received prophylaxis against DVT. The patients were selected on the basis of the following findings: 1) Immediately in patients found to have clinical DVT following surgery; 2) Every odd number of patients who underwent surgery and did not show signs and symptoms of DVT on the 7th, 14th post operative day and 6th post operative week. Results: The incidence of DVT using compression ultrasonography in the patients who underwent surgery of the spine and long bones of lower extremity following trauma was 17 percent. The incidence of DVT has no correlation with various clinical variables. Conclusion: The observed incidence of DVT is reasonably high and it is a potential risk factor for the development of pulmonary embolism.
Highlights
Venous thromboembolism, which includes deep vein thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism (PE), is an important and potentially a fatal complication of patients sustaining traumatic fractures of the spine and long bones of the lower extremity if not suspected and treated promptly
One hundred patients operated for trauma to spine and long bones of lower extremity were screened in the present study
All these patients were evaluated by detailed history and physical examination focusing on demographic data, details related to trauma, fracture site, duration of trauma and predisposing factors to venous thromboembolism, e.g. obesity, immobilization, smoking etc
Summary
Venous thromboembolism, which includes deep vein thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism (PE), is an important and potentially a fatal complication of patients sustaining traumatic fractures of the spine and long bones of the lower extremity if not suspected and treated promptly. This study was undertaken to evaluate the incidence of DVT using compression ultrasonography in the patients who underwent surgery of the spine and long bones of lower extremity following trauma. Material & Methods: All patients who underwent surgery following trauma to the spine and long bones of lower extremity were screened using Venous B-mode ultrasonography and color Doppler imaging. Results: The incidence of DVT using compression ultrasonography in the patients who underwent surgery of the spine and long bones of lower extremity following trauma was 17 percent. Conclusion: The observed incidence of DVT is reasonably high and it is a potential risk factor for the development of pulmonary embolism
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