2017 Volume 36 Issue 4 Pages 453-456
Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of postoperative early exercise therapy for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prevention after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).
Methods: The series consisted of 396 knees in 198 patients, undergoing TKA between August 2014 and November 2015, inclusive. Patients included 41 men and 157 women, with a mean age of 72.4 years, and a mean body mass index of 25.2 kg/m2. We performed lower limb venous ultrasonography before and two weeks after TKA for all patients, and investigated the incidence and the site of DVT. All patients underwent exercise therapy immediately after surgery.
Results: The incidence of DVT was 3.9%. All cases experienced distal DVTs. There were no patients with clinical symptoms of DVT and/or thromboembolism.
Conclusion: The early exercise therapy after TKA appears effective for DVT prevention.
