2015 ISAKOS Biennial Congress ePoster #1402

Incidence and Natural History of Venous Thromboembolism After Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty in Korea

Sung Won Jang, MD, Seoul, Seoul KOREA, REPUBLIC OF
In Jun Koh, MD, PhD, Prof., Seoul KOREA, REPUBLIC OF
Man-Soo Kim, MD, PhD, Seoul KOREA, REPUBLIC OF
Min Woo Kim, MD, Seoul, Seo-cho gu KOREA, REPUBLIC OF
Yong In, MD, PhD, Seoul KOREA, REPUBLIC OF

Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Seoul, Seoul, KOREA

FDA Status Cleared

Summary: Although overall incidence of VTE after UKA in Korean patients was relatively high (24%), all of VTE lesions after UKA were asymptomatic and resolved without specific prophylaxis or treatment .

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Abstract:

Introduction

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is generally considered to be a potentially fatal event, therefore, prophylactic agents to prevent VTE are recommended in Western countries. However, incidence of VTE after TKA in Asian patients is known to be infrequent, compared with that of Western countries and the routine pharmacological thrombo-prophylaxis in Asian population remains controversial. Moreover, there is a paucity of data on the topic of incidence of VTE after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) and its natural course in Asian population. The purpose of this study was to document (1) the incidence of VTE after UKA; and (2) its natural course in Asians.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed prospectively collected 69 consecutive UKA records of 62 patients (14 of simultaneous bilateral UKA and 55 of unilateral UKA). In all patients, CT lung scan and veno-graphy of lower extremities were undertaken preoperatively and postoperatively (one week after UKA). At three to six months after UKA, follow-up CT lung scan and veno-graphy were carried out in all patients who diagnosed as postoperative developed VTE. We assessed incidences of proximal and distal deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE). In addition, we evaluated natural courses of those lesions.

Results

Overall incidences of VTE and PE in this cohort were 24% (15 out of 62) and 6% (4 out of 62), respectively. Of 15 patients who had VTE, 14 DVTs occurred at distally, whereas one in proximally. Inaddition, all of four PEs were combined with distal DVT occurrence. (Figure) None of those VTE lesions was symptomatic. In follow-up CT veno-graphy, all of PEs and DVTs were completely resolved spontaneously within 3 to 6 months after surgery.

Discussion And Conclusion

Although overall incidence of VTE after UKA in Asian patients was relatively high (24%), all of VTE lesions after UKA were asymptomatic and resolved without specific prophylaxis or treatment within 3-6 months after UKA.