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Venous thrombosis after hallux valgus surgery
Roman Radl1, Norbert Kastner, Christian Aigner
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Graz, Austria. roman.radl@uni-graz.at
The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. American Volume
|July 10, 2003
Summary
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) risk after hallux valgus surgery is low at 4%. Prophylaxis should be individualized, especially for patients over sixty.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Vascular Medicine
- Thrombosis Research
Background:
- Hallux valgus surgery is common, but deep vein thrombosis (DVT) rates are unclear.
- A prospective, phlebographically controlled study was conducted to determine DVT incidence post-hallux valgus surgery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the rate of venous thrombosis following operative correction of hallux valgus.
- To assess the risk of DVT in patients undergoing hallux valgus surgery without prophylaxis.
Main Methods:
- A single-center, prospective study enrolled 100 consecutive patients undergoing chevron bunionectomy.
- Patients with pre-existing DVT risk factors were excluded; no medical prophylaxis was administered.
- Phlebography was performed on all patients at a mean of 29 days postoperatively.
Main Results:
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was detected in 4% of patients (4 out of 100).
- Patients who developed DVT were significantly older (mean age 61.7 years) than those who did not (mean age 48.4 years).
Conclusions:
- Surgical treatment for hallux valgus carries a low risk of DVT.
- Individual risk assessment is crucial for determining the need for DVT prophylaxis.
- Routine prophylaxis may be warranted for patients exceeding sixty years of age.