What additional intraoperative and postoperative medical procedures are done to prevent postoperative complications following total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty?
Intraoperative prophylactic antibiotics are given to decrease the chance of infection. For LE total joint replacement (hip, knee), compression stockings, early ambulation, and anticoagulation are done to prevent postoperative deep venous thrombosis. Deep venous thrombosis occurs in 50% to 60% of patients, pulmonary embolus in over 10% of patients, and fatal pulmonary embolus in 0% to 3% of patients if postoperative anticoagulation (1–6 weeks) is not done.
