Rapid-Onset Venous Thrombosis After Tibia Fracture: A Case Report

BACKGROUND Conventional clinical understanding holds that venous thrombus formation typically occurs days after traumatic injury. However, our findings demonstrate that acute thrombosis can begin within 7.5 hours after fracture in knee trauma cases, challenging existing paradigms. CASE REPORT A 43-year-old man was admitted to the Emergency Department (ED) after an electric bicycle accident precipitated by acute-onset dizziness accompanied by visual disturbances. Initial radiographic evaluation confirmed a comminuted right proximal tibia fracture with concomitant multiple acute ischemic cerebral infarctions on neuroimaging. Compression ultrasonography performed in the ED showed no evidence of deep venous thrombosis in the lower extremities. However, markedly elevated D-dimer levels (9.39 mg/L; reference <0.5 mg/L) prompted high clinical suspicion for occult venous thromboembolism. Serial Doppler ultrasound surveillance revealed the rapid development of a free-floating thrombus in the right soleal vein within 7.5 hours after the fracture occurred. CONCLUSIONS This case report documents the exceptionally rapid development of venous thrombosis within 7.5 hours following a proximal tibia fracture, particularly in high-risk patients with comorbid conditions such as diabetes mellitus and ischemic stroke. These findings necessitate immediate reassessment of current thromboprophylaxis protocols in orthopedic trauma, emphasizing the critical importance of early and frequent vascular monitoring (including serial Doppler ultrasonography and D-dimer assessment) to detect hyperacute thrombus formation. Clinicians must maintain heightened awareness of this emergency thromboembolic risk while simultaneously managing hemorrhage concerns, as this case demonstrates that the traditional 24-hour prophylaxis window may be inadequate for certain high-risk trauma populations.