Shengxue Busui Decoction Combined with Low Molecular Weight Heparin for Preventing Deep Vein Thrombosis After Knee Arthroplasty

<i>Objective: </i>To investigate the effectiveness of Shengxue Busui Decoction combined with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) in preventing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after knee arthroplasty (KA) in elderly patients. <i>Materials and Methods: </i>Patients aged over 60 years who underwent KA at Xuanwu Hospital between October 2020 and June 2022 were prospectively enrolled. Participants were randomly assigned to an observation group or a control group. The control group received LMWH alone for postoperative DVT prophylaxis, while the observation group received Shengxue Busui Decoction in combination with LMWH. Routine coagulation parameters, plasma D-dimer levels, and thromboelastography (TEG) were assessed one day before surgery and three days after surgery. The occurrence of DVT was evaluated using lower limb venous ultrasound at 3 days, 1 week, and 1 month postoperatively. Pain intensity was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS), and knee function was evaluated using the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score before surgery and at 1 week and 1 month after surgery. Bleeding events were recorded during the first postoperative month. <i>Results: </i>A total of 130 patients completed the study, with 65 patients in each group. There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics between the two groups. One week after surgery, the incidence of DVT was significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group (10.8% vs. 24.6%, P < 0.05). The observation group also showed a significantly lower incidence of bleeding events within one month postoperatively compared with the control group (10.8% vs. 29.2%, P < 0.05). Coagulation tests and TEG parameters indicated a relatively hypocoagulable state in the observation group compared with the control group three days after surgery.<i> Conclusions: </i>Shengxue Busui Decoction combined with LMWH is effective in reducing the incidence of postoperative DVT and bleeding events after KA, and may improve postoperative coagulation status.