Abstract
Background: This study compared the incidence of postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) between meniscectomy and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) under arthroscopy and determined whether ACLR increases the VTE risk compared to meniscectomy.Methods: A retrospective study including 468 patients, ranging in age from 18 to 70 years, was divided into an ACLR group and a meniscectomy group according to the intervention procedures.All patients routinely received VTE screening by venous ultrasonography in postoperative week 2 and then clinical follow-up at 4 and 6 weeks post surgery. The incidence of VTE was calculated and clinical factors such as age, sex, body mass index (BMI), smoking, concomitant procedure, Caprini score, and duration of tourniquet were evaluated in relation to the risk factors for VTE.Results: A total of 341 patients who underwent arthroscopic ACLR or meniscectomy were available for analysis. Of these, 130 (38.1%) received ACLR, and 211 (61.9%) received meniscectomy. There was no pulmonary embolism (PE) or femoral deep vein thrombosis (DVT) reported in either group. Fourteen patients (10.8%) developed VTE in the ACL group compared to 17 (8.1%) in the meniscectomy group, with no significant difference (P=0.397). Among these patients, 4 (3.1%) patients in the ACL reconstruction group and 3 (1.4%) patients in the meniscectomy group had DVT confirmed by ultrasound Doppler (P >0.05). Age was shown to be the only independent risk factor for the development of VTE postoperatively (p=0.027). ACLR had a tendency (OR=3.129) to increase the risk of VTE but failed to reach statistical significance (p = 0.052). ACLR had a tendency (OR=3.129) to increase the risk of VTE but failed to reach statistical significance (p = 0.052).Conclusion: The incidence of VTE after ACLR and meniscectomy within 6 weeks post surgery was 10.8% and 8.1%, respectively. Age was the only independent risk factor for the development of VTE postoperatively.
Does Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Increase Venous Thromboembolism Risk Compared to Knee Meniscectomy Under Arthroscopy?
