Original articles   

International Angiology 2007 June;26(2):165-70

Copyright © 2007 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Deep vein thrombosis in trauma: a prospective study of lower limb orthopedic trauma patients in Tianjin Hospital, China

Lu Y. ^{1, 2}, Ma B. ¹, Guo R. ¹, Wang Y. ¹, Zhang J. ¹, Wu Y. ¹, Pang G. ¹, Xin J. ¹, Ye W. ¹, Zou Y. ¹, Wang X. ¹, Hitos K. ², Curtin P. ², Fletcher J. ²

¹ Tianjin Orthopedic Hospital, Tianjin, China 2 Department of Surgery, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia

Aim. Pulmonary embolism is a third leading cause of death in trauma patients. The prevalence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in Asian countries is considered to be less than in Western countries. Our aim was to establish the rate of DVT in orthopedic trauma patients in Tianjin Hospital, to identify DVT risk factors and to support the use of prophylaxis.
Methods. Patients admitted between November 2003 and October 2004 with recent fracture had data collected prospectively to record type of fracture, mechanism of injury, history of DVT, blood transfusion requirements, operation details, extent of postoperative swelling, use of traction, immobilization, bandaging and patient positioning. Each patient had 3 duplex ultrasound examinations, the first within 24 h of admission. Patients requiring surgery had a second ultrasound within 2 days preoperatively, then 7 days postoperatively. Patients not requiring surgery had second and third ultrasound examinations 5 and 14 days after admission.
Results. There were 547 patients, median age 39.6 years (interquartile range: 28-50 years). DVT developed in 12.4% (95% confidence interval: 9.7-15.2%), most occurring with femoral shaft fractures (30.6%), 15.8% occurred with hip fractures, 14.5% with fractures around the knee and 10.8% with fractured tibia and fibula. Over half of DVTs (56.7%) developed within 3 days following injury.
Conclusion. The incidence of DVT in Chinese orthopedic trauma patients approaches that in Western countries. Guidelines for DVT prophylaxis should be applied in China as in Western countries.