The relation between deep venous thrombosis and clinical findings after total hip arthroplasty

The aim of this study was to investigate the difference of clinical findings to determine whether deep venous thrombosis (DVT) was complicated or not in the operated lower extremity. Subjects were 35 females with osteoarthritis of the hip who had undergone total hip arthroplasty (THA). We evaluated pain (Hommans sign or tenderness), edema, heat, superficial venous dilation and multiple findings on the operated side on the day physical therapy was restarted. DVT complications were diagnosed by venography. We divided patients into two groups: the 12 patients with DVT complication belonged to group P, and the 23 patients without DVT were in group N. In comparison of symptoms between two groups, only pain was statistically different. The other symptoms tended to be more apparent in patients belonging to group P than group N, but 5 of 12 patients in the group P had a free floating thrombosis (FFT) which progresses easily to a pulmonary embolism, and clinical findings were fewer on the lower extremity with FFT. We should confirm the existence of DVT by not only clinical findings, but also by venography before the start of physical therapy.