Risk factors for deep vein thrombosis even using low-molecular-weight heparin after total knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: With an increase in deep vein thrombosis (DVT) following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in the Asian population, most surgeons today use a form of prophylactic anticoagulant agents in patients after TKA. Nevertheless, DVT occasionally develops even in these patients with prophylaxis. The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors for DVT after TKA in cases of postoperative low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) use. METHODS: We designed a retrospective study with 103 patients who underwent primary TKA. From the second postoperative day, 60 mg of LMWH was subcutaneously injected into the patients daily. On the seventh postoperative day, patients had computed tomography angiography to check whether they had DVT. Regarding risk factors, we investigated patients' gender, age, surgical site (unilateral/bilateral), body mass index, method of anesthesia, preoperative hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia status, and prothrombin time/international normalized ratio from electronic medical records. We analyzed the statistical significance of these risk factors. RESULTS: Statistically significant factors in the single-variable analysis were surgical site (unilateral/bilateral), body mass index, preoperative hypertension status, and anesthesia method. Multiple logistic regression analysis with these factors revealed that the surgical site (unilateral/bilateral, p = 0.024) and anesthesia method (p = 0.039) were significant factors for the occurrence of postoperative DVT after TKA. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing simultaneous bilateral TKAs and patients undergoing TKA with general anesthesia need more attention regarding DVT even with chemoprophylaxis using LMWH after TKA.

Anatomic femoral tunnel creation during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using curved dilator system.

PURPOSE: Recently, tunnel placements in anatomic positions have been emphasized for successful restoration of knee function after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The anteromedial portal technique is considered to be more favorable than the transtibial technique for anatomic femoral tunnel placements; however, it has some technical disadvantages. To minimize these disadvantages, the authors developed the curved dilator system (CDS). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the femoral tunnel position, length, and intraoperative complications with CDS. METHODS: Sixty-two consecutive patients who underwent ACL reconstruction with CDS were subjects of this study. The femoral tunnel was created using a 4.5 mm-diameter curved guide trocar and was widened in a step-by-step manner, increasing by 1 mm dilator diameter to match the graft with the knee flexed to slightly over 90°. Femoral tunnel positions were evaluated by the quadrant method from postoperative computed tomographic images. Femoral tunnel length was measured using the curved depth gauge during surgery. Complications such as posterior wall blowout and cartilage damage were checked intraoperatively. Peroneal nerve injury was observed during the hospital stay. RESULTS: Femoral tunnel position was 32.7% ± 5.4% and 39.1% ± 5.9% in the superior-inferior and anterior-posterior positions, respectively. Femoral tunnel length was 39.2 ± 4.1 mm. Damage to medial femoral condyle cartilage, posterior wall blowout, and peroneal nerve injury did not occur in any case. CONCLUSION: ACL reconstruction with CDS resulted in anatomic positioning of the femoral tunnel and sufficient femoral tunnel length without intraoperative complications.

Pseudoaneurysm of the medial superior genicular artery after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy.

We describe a case of 43-year-old man who had a pseudoaneurysm of the medial superior genicular artery after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy with standard anterolateral and anteromedial portals. Pseudoaneurysm of the medial superior genicular artery has been reported at the previous superomedial portal site after arthroscopy. Described herein is a unique case that involved the medial superior genicular artery at the previous anteromedial portal site after arthroscopy. The pseudoaneurysm was successfully treated with transcatheter embolization.