Complications associated with warfarin prophylaxis in total knee arthroplasty

Systemic and local complications associated with the use of warfarin for deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are significant. Forty-seven patients with primary TKAs considered at high risk for developing thromboembolic disease were treated with a regimen of preoperative and postoperative warfarin. The incidence (n = 2) of systemic complications was 4%. The incidence (n = 6) of wound complications requiring specific treatment or discontinuing physiotherapy was 12%. In this series, wound complications did not jeopardize the end results of TKA. However, such wound complications as may have delayed recovery occurred with a frequency similar to that reported in other series of TKA using different antithromboembolic modalities.