Postthrombotic syndrome after asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis following total knee and hip arthroplasty.

Lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is relatively common after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA). In this study, we sought to identify whether post-thrombotic syndrome is a significant risk in patients with asymptomatic DVT after TKA and THA. Included in the study were 186 patients (203 lower extremities) who had undergone routine lower extremity venography after TKA or THA between 1989 and 1993. Patients were contacted a minimum of 7 years after surgery. Postoperative varicose veins occurred in 8% of limbs without DVT compared with 12% of limbs with DVT. Hyperpigmentation occurred in 13% of limbs without DVT and in 16% and 18% of limbs with proximal and distal DVT, respectively. Swelling occurred in 6% of limbs without DVT, in 8% of limbs with proximal DVT, and in 12% of limbs with distal DVT. None of these differences was statistically significant, and there were no differences for proximal versus distal DVT. There was no significant increase in risk for postthrombotic syndrome after asymptomatic proximal or distal DVT after TKA or THA.