Factors affecting the formation of deep vein thrombosis in the lower extremities after orthopedic surgery

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is one of the most common complications after orthopedic surgery. This complication could be fatal if pulmonary embolisms occur. Aiming to analyze factors affecting the formation of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the lower extremities after orthopedic surgery and to develop an effective diagnosis tool, 282 patients undergoing orthopedic surgery due to lower extremity fractures, from November 2015 to November 2018, in the Central Hospital of Weihai, were enrolled in the study. Clinical data, including age, gender, fracture site, operation times, mechanical ventilation, hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes, and D-dimer levels, were collected and analyzed for factors related to DVT. Of the patients studied, 99 developed DVT and the overall DVT incidence was 35%. Age, chronic diseases, mechanical ventilation, and severity of disease were found to be main factors leading to DVT (P < 0.05). Sensitivity and specificity rates of D-dimer levels in the diagnosis of DVT were 95.2% and 85.9%. In addition, operation times, chronic diseases, pulmonary infections, and post-operative bedding times influenced the formation of DVT. Analysis showed age, gender, surgery duration, post-operative bedtimes, complications of chronic disease, use of ventilators, and fracture sites to be independent risk factors for DVT. D-dimer levels can also be used to predict the formation of DVT.