The Journal of surgical research
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Major trauma represents a significant risk for development of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Duplex ultrasonography is a noninvasive test to identify DVT and has been suggested for screening asymptomatic high-risk trauma patients. While some risk factors for DVT are well described, it remains unclear whether site of DVT development is associated with anatomical location of injury. An association between anatomical locations of injury would serve to highlight the importance of directed screening of those extremities at highest risk. Therefore, we hypothesize that location of DVT correlates with side of lower extremity injury. ⋯ Patients who sustained lateralizing lower extremity injury and developed lower extremity DVT had a high likelihood of developing their DVT on the same side as their injury. A larger multi-institutional analysis is needed to assess the correlation between injury site and anatomical location of DVT before suggesting any changes in recommendations for duplex screening.