Comparing residual thrombosis and venous thromboembolism outcomes between patients treated with or without anticoagulant therapy for acute distal lower-limb deep vein thrombosis after total hip arthroplasty.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the necessity of anticoagulant therapy with an Xa inhibitor for asymptomatic acute distal lower-limb deep vein thrombosis (DVT) detected on ultrasonography after total hip arthroplasty (THA).

METHODS

After exclusions, patients who underwent primary cementless THA were divided into treatment and no-treatment groups based on whether they received anticoagulant therapy with an Xa inhibitor for asymptomatic acute distal lower-limb DVT. Residual distal lower-limb DVT at 3 months, incidence of proximal DVT, and symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) after THA were compared between the groups.

RESULTS

A total of 574 patients met the inclusion criteria (treatment group, n = 287; no-treatment group, n = 287). Residual distal lower-limb DVT at 3 months was detected in 3 patients (1.0%) in the treatment group and in 10 patients (3.5%) in the no-treatment group. No symptomatic VTE was observed in either group. No significant difference was observed between the two groups, although the no-treatment group tended to have a higher residual rate of acute distal lower-limb DVT.

CONCLUSION

The necessity of anticoagulant therapy for asymptomatic acute distal lower-limb DVT was not confirmed.