Venous Thrombosis Below the Knee: Prevention of Life and Limb Threatening Morbidity

The incidence of acute deep venous thrombosis is considered low compared with other orthopedic procedures such as knee and hip arthroplasty. The literature is still controversial with regards to chemical prophylaxis for treatment of foot and ankle trauma and surgery. It is crucial for the foot and ankle team to evaluate the potential risk factors for venous thrombosis with the goal of preventing the complications of post-phlebitic syndrome, pulmonary hypertension, and fatal pulmonary embolus. This article reviews the current literature, risk stratification scoring methods, and makes recommendations for chemical prophylaxis for high risk patient populations.