The objective of this retrospective study was to investigate the prevalence of asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and the risk of DVT in patients admitted to hospital for total knee arthroplasty (TKA).
From September of 2003 to December of 2013, 322 patients admitted for TKA were eligible for this retrospective study. A diagnosis of DVT was confirmed by Doppler ultrasonography. The prevalence of silent DVT in the lower limbs in patients before TKA was assessed. The risk factors for preoperative DVT were investigated, as well as the correlation of DVT in the patient's background and medical history.
Preoperative DVT was diagnosed in 56 patients (17.4%) including 3 patients with proximal DVT. Significantly elevated risks of DVT were found in patients undergoing revision TKA (p < 0.01), patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (p < 0.005), patients with connective tissue diseases (CTDs) (p < 0.05), and female patients (p < 0.05) on univariate analyses. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that RA, CTDs and admission for revision TKA were independent risk factors for preoperative DVT.
A high prevalence of preoperative DVT was found in patients admitted to hospital for TKA. Admission to the hospital for RA, CTDs and revision TKA were risk factors for preoperative DVT.