One of the big risk factors when having orthopedic surgery is developing a deep vein thrombosis, or a DVT. This is a blood clot that develops within a deep vein after surgery and can travel to places such as your lungs, causing great tissue damage, even death. Both Dr. Bents and Dr. Van Horne have protocols for preventing deep vein thromboses. Paragon Orthopedic Center considers it a priority to not only prevent them by having you take certain measures, but also to educate you about the symptoms so that if this does develop, you can seek treatment quickly. No one knows why some develop them and others do not, but some people are more at risk for developing one. The risk factors include:
- Obesity, age, medical history, smoking, genetic factors, pregnancy, and certain medications.
The symptoms include:
- Pain in your leg and/or calf, feeling like a cramp that won’t go away
- Reddened/discolored/tender skin
- The area is warm to the touch
- Swelling of your thigh, calf, ankle, or foot
The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons put a video together to help you understand more about DVT’s. Find that here:
https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/recovery/preventing-blood-clots-after-orthopaedic-surgery-video/
Always let your surgeon know if you have any concerns about a DVT. Dr. Bents and Dr. Van Horne want you to have great surgical outcomes and our team at Paragon will troubleshoot all of your concerns.
