Deep vein thrombosis associated with major lower extremity amputation

Abstract

Patients who undergo major lower extremity amputations carry a risk of developing deep venous thrombosis. The incidence of deep venous thrombosis is elevated during the postoperative period, mainly in patients who undergo above knee amputation surgery compared to below knee amputation. The high incidence of deep venous thrombosis is probably because the femoral vein is a conduction vessel with few tributaries, a feature that leads to poor venous flow in its remnant segment and consequent thrombosis.