Incidence of Deep Vein Thrombosis in Floating Knee

Abstract

Objective: To report the incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in ipsilateral femur and tibial fractures (floating knee). Methods: This is a retrospective, analytical, observational study conducted with the medical records of thirty patients admitted to a trauma hospital between October 2016 and July 2017 with floating knee. Results: Patients aged between 21-30 years were the most affected by the condition (36%). Seventeen patients affected the dominant limb (57%); 19 (63%) patients were classified as Fraser type I, 18 (60%) had open (compound) fractures, 16 (53%) tibial fractures, and 8 (26%) femoral fractures. External fixation of the femur and tibia (25 patients = 83%) was the most common emergency treatment. In total, 17% of patients presented deep venous thrombosis (p = 0.409). Conclusion: Despite antithrombotic prophylaxis, the incidence of DVT in the affected limb of patients with floating knee was high. We found patients with Fraser I fractures, male, and with fractures in the non-dominant limb to present a higher chance of developing DVT. Level of Evidence III, Comparative retrospective study .