The American journal of orthopedics
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Blood loss associated with total joint arthroplasty can be substantial. Various techniques for dealing with such blood loss include allogeneic blood programs, preadmission donation programs, pharmacologic agents, hemodilution, and perioperative blood salvage. This article reviews these techniques as well as the consequences of perioperative anemia. Problems associated with blood transfusions are also outlined.
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Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States and other countries have increased airport security. Metal detectors (archway and handheld wand) are used to detect potentially dangerous instruments during airport screening. ⋯ The orthopedic literature is inconsistent in its reports on airport screening of patients with orthopedic implants. In this article, I review that literature and examine the factors that make detection of orthopedic implants a less than consistent science.
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Lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is relatively common after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA). In this study, we sought to identify whether post-thrombotic syndrome is a significant risk in patients with asymptomatic DVT after TKA and THA. Included in the study were 186 patients (203 lower extremities) who had undergone routine lower extremity venography after TKA or THA between 1989 and 1993. ⋯ Swelling occurred in 6% of limbs without DVT, in 8% of limbs with proximal DVT, and in 12% of limbs with distal DVT. None of these differences was statistically significant, and there were no differences for proximal versus distal DVT. There was no significant increase in risk for postthrombotic syndrome after asymptomatic proximal or distal DVT after TKA or THA.