SONOGRAPHIC INCIDENCE OF DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS CONTRALATERAL TO HIP OR KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY

Purpose. This study assesses the sonographic incidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) contralateral to and the venographic incidence ipsila teral to hip or knee replacement surgery and the role of sonography in routine surveillance. Methods. We prospectively evaluated 178 consecu tive patients with sonography of the femoropopliteal venous systems of the contralateral lower extremity and venography of the ipsilateral l ower extremity on days 3 and 4, respectively, after total hip or knee replacement surgery. Results. No cases of acute DVT and only 1 case of chronic DVT isolated to the popliteal system were identified by sonog raphy in the contralateral extremity. In the ipsilateral extremity, ve nography identified 26 patients with acute DVT (3 femoropopliteal, 21 calf, and 2 concurrent femoropopliteal and calf). Conclusions. Routine sonographic evaluation of the lower extremity contralateral to hip or knee replacement surgery is not cost-effective because of the extreme ly low incidence of detectable acute thrombus. (C) 1998 John Wiley & S ons, Inc.