Abstract
The incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after foot and ankle surgery is generally
believed to be low. However, little information is available regarding DVT as it specifically
relates to foot and ankle trauma. The National Trauma Data Bank data set (2007 to
2009) was used to evaluate the incidence of thromboembolism in foot and ankle trauma.
Also, the risk factors associated with the thromboembolic events were identified.
Data regarding the demographics, comorbidities, procedures, trauma types, and complications,
including DVT and pulmonary embolism (PE), were collected from the data set for analysis.
The incidence of DVT and PE was 0.28% and 0.21%, respectively. The risk factors statistically
significantly associated and clinically relevant for both DVT and PE in foot and ankle
trauma were older age (DVT, odds ratio [OR] 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01
to 1.03; PE, OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.03), obesity (DVT, OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.33 to
4.14; PE, OR 3.06, 95% CI 1.68 to 5.59), and higher injury severity score (DVT, OR
1.22, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.28; PE, OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.29). Owing to the low incidence,
routine pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis might be contraindicated in foot and ankle
trauma. Instead, careful, individualized assessment of the risk factors associated
with DVT/PE is important.
Level of Clinical Evidence
Keywords
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Article info
Footnotes
Financial Disclosure: None reported.
Conflict of Interest: None reported.
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
