Thromboembolic disease after knee arthroplasty is rare in Southern Iran.

BACKGROUND:

Thromboembolic disease (TED) after knee arthroplasty occurs infrequently in Iran. The aim of this study was to examine the incidence of TED in patients with osteo-arthritis undergoing knee replacement in Southern Iran while on prophylaxis. Materials & methods: In a case series study from January to December 2012,100 consecutive total knee arthroplasty (TKA) candidates were evaluated for TED by clinical evaluation and Doppler sonography preoperatively and 2 months postoperatively and by clinical evaluation one year after surgery. The patients in this study randomly received either warfarin or enoxaparin prophylactically.

RESULTS:

A total of 77 women and 23 men with mean age of 67 years (52-82 years) entered the study. The average hemoglobin drop of 2.7 g with warfarin and 3.3 with enoxaparin was observed. No case of TED, pulmonary embolus (PE), major bleeding, post-thrombotic syndrome, or hemarthrosis was observed.

CONCLUSION:

No clinically significant DVT was found using either enoxaparin or warfarin prophylaxis after TKA in Southern Iran. Relatively excessive postoperative bleeding was observed, particularly with enoxaparin.