J Korean Orthop Assoc.  2007 Aug;42(4):523-529. 10.4055/jkoa.2007.42.4.523.

Availability of D-dimer Test for the Diagnosis ofDeep Vein Thrombosis after Total Knee Arthroplasty

• Kim YJ
• Hur CI
• Song EK
• Seon JK
• Park SJ
• Cho SB
• Cho YJ

• KMID: 2186515
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4055/jkoa.2007.42.4.523

Abstract

PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and evaluate the availability of D-dimer test for the diagnosis of DVT after TKA.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
From April 2006 to July 2006, 140 consecutive patients, who had degenerative osteoarthritic knees and underwent primary total knee arthroplasty, were enrolled in this study. General and hematological risk factors were compared between DVT positive and negative patients. D-dimer level was checked preoperatively, and at 1, 7 and 14 days after surgery. A diagnosis of DVT was established by computed tomography venography.
RESULTS
DVT was found in 48 (34%) patients and only 5 (10.4%) showed symptoms of DVT. Regarding the risk factors, only obesity was significantly associated with an increased incidence of DVT (p=0.049). Seven days after surgery, the average D-dimer level in the DVT positive and negative patients was 4.90 mg/L and 3.12 mg/L, respectively (p=0.000).
CONCLUSION
In our study patients, the incidence of symptomatic DVT was lower than in the Western population. We recommend obesity, clinical symptoms and D-dimer value at 7 days after surgery as a valuable screening tests for detecting DVT.

Keyword

Total knee arthroplasty; Deep vein thrombosis; D-dimer

MeSH Terms

Arthroplasty*
Diagnosis*
Humans
Incidence
Knee*
Mass Screening
Obesity
Phlebography
Prevalence
Risk Factors
Thrombosis*
Veins*
Venous Thrombosis

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Receiver operation characteristic of D-dimer value at 7 days after total knee arthroplasty. The best cutoff value for screening was 4.21 mg/L.

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