Clinical evaluation of the deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism after total joint arthroplasty

From April 2001 to August 2005, screening contrast venography and pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy were performed postoperatively on 124 consecutive total knee arthroplasties (TKA) and 64 total hip arthroplasties (THA) . The overall incidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) after TKA was 20.2% (25/124) and after THA was 21.9% (14/64) . The incidence of symptomatic pulmonary embolism (PE) was 1.1% (2/188) and asymptomatic PE was 4.8% (9/188) . The incidence of DVT in affected legs was 64.1% (25/39) and in unaffected legs was 17.9 % (7/39) and in both legs was 17.9% (7/39) . The incidence of DVT in left legs was 53.9% (21/39) and in right legs was 28.2% (11/38) and in both legs was 17.9% (7/39).