A PROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS IN LOWER LIMB FRACTURES USING COLOUR DOPPLER SONOGRAPHY: A STUDY AT RRMCH, BENGALURU

Background: Few studies which have reported very low incidence of DVT in India have been conducted in patients undergoing elective orthopaedic surgery and used colour duplex for diagnosis.Despite having fewer comorbid conditions, orthopaedic patients with deep vein thrombosis remain particularly vulnerable to calf deep vein thrombosis. Rates of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis were inadequate. With the aforementioned facts, the need of this study is to establish evidence of deep vein thrombosis in patients with lower limb trauma as early as possible, adequately manage it and prevent its complications Methods: Total of 83 patients admitted in Orthopaedics department with lower limb fractures satisfying the inclusion criteria and exclusion were included in the study. Thorough history and clinical examination data were obtained, venous doppler ultrasound studies were done clinical scoring for risk of deep vein thrombosis was done using Well’s criteria and noted. Post operatively on day 4, another colour venous doppler study of the lower limbs was be performed and clinical scoring for risk of deep vein thrombosis was be done using Well’s criteria and noted. For patients who developed symptoms/signs of deep vein thrombosis during their stay at the hospital, appropriate chemoprophylaxis was started for these patients who developed deep vein thrombosis, follow up colour venous doppler study of the lower limbs was done after 3 months to look for re-canalization of the affected venous system Results: In our study among 83 subjects, 48.2 % are from 20 to 40 years of old. Male subjects constituted 68.7%. There were no associated comorbidities among 81.9%(n=68) of study subjects. Pertrochanteric fracture constituted common fracture. Majority had closed type of fractures. Pre operative Wells score was 1.5 and 3 among 50.6% (n=42) and 47% (n=39) subjects 15 respectively with mean value of 2.386. The mean post operative Well’s score was 2.512 and 61.4% (n=51) and 22.9% (n=19) subjects has Well’s score of 1.5 and 3 respectively. The preoperative doppler showed no evidence of DVT among 97.6% while both fat embolism syndrome and DVT was seen in 1.2% (n=1) subjects. While the post operative doppler showed no evidence of DVT among 98.8%(n=82) subjects. One subject out of 7 with hypertension suffered from DVT. Conclusion: In our study among 83 subjects, 48.2 % are from 20 to 40 years of old. Male subjects constituted 68.7%. There were no associated comorbidities among 81.9%(n=68) of study subjects. Pertrochanteric fracture constituted common fracture. Majority had closed type of fractures. Pre operative Wells score was 1.5 and 3 among 50.6% (n=42) and 47% (n=39) subjects respectively with mean value of 2.386. The mean post operative Well’s score was 2.512 and 61.4% (n=51) and 22.9% (n=19) subjects has Well’s score of 1.5 and 3 respectively. The preoperative doppler showed no evidence of DVT among 97.6% while both fat embolism syndrome and DVT was seen in 1.2% (n=1) subjects. While the post operative doppler showed no evidence of DVT among 98.8%(n=82) subjects. One subject out of 7 with hypertension suffered from DVT.