Global management of total hip and total knee arthroplasty patient populations: a new, comprehensive approach to deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis.

Overview

Venous thromboembolic disease remains a common and potentially fatal complication after total joint arthroplasty. The incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) has been reported to be between 5% and 60% in a number of studies using a variety of prophylaxis regimens. Symptomatic pulmonary embolism has been documented as high as 23%, while fatal pulmonary embolism, although relatively infrequent, remains one of the most catastrophic complications of total joint arthroplasty.