Early ambulation after total knee arthroplasty prevents patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis from developing postoperative higher levels of D-dimer.

This study aimed to clarify the therapeutic effects of postoperative ambulation after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) on deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) after TKA. Subjects of this study were thirty-seven inpatients (21 inpatients: OA, 16 inpatients: RA) undergoing TKA (32 female and 5 male). Subjects were divided into two groups, deep venous thrombosis (DVT) group (n=25) and non-DVT group (N group, n=12). The cutoff value was 10.0 microg/ml plasma D-dimer level measured on 7(th) postoperative day. The N group was below the cutoff value. Another cutoff value divided into two groups, ambulatory group (n=26) and non-ambulatory group (n=11). Ambulatory group was the date of ambulation beginning below 7(th) day. Statistical analysis confirmed that all subjects showed a significant correlation to the date of ambulation. Postoperative ambulation beginning had strong association with the level of D-dimer (r=0.71). Group comparison showed that the non-ambulatory group had significant higher values of D-dimer than ambulatory group (P=0.022). Typical case supported these results. Postoperative early ambulation within a week after TKA kept patients with OA and RA after TKA lower level of D-dimer.