To investigate the incidence of PTS in patients with veno-graphically proven DVT following hip or knee replacement surgery, patients were derived from a randomised controlled trial of LMWH versus unfractionated heparin prophylaxis in 500 total hip or knee replacement patients. Surveillance venogram at 10 days detected DVT in 93 patients, and these were warfarinised for 3–6 months. At a minimum follow-up of 7 years, patients were assessed by clinical examination, questionnaire and application of two scoring systems; a modified PTS score based on the Browse score, and the clinical component of the International Consensus Committee on Chronic Venous Disease classification (ICC-CVD).

70 patients (21 deaths and 2 non-responders, follow-up rate 97%) with 32 THR and 38 TKR were studied. 63% patients were female, and average age was 74 years. Leg ache (46%) and swelling (42%) were the most common subjective complaints, but 40% patients had no complaints. Objectively, leg swelling was observed in 52% of patients, varicose veins in 26%, but ulceration was seen in only 3% of patients. The modified PTS score showed 14% patients had no symptoms, 64% mild symptoms, 19% moderate and 3% severe symptoms of PTS. The ICC-CVD score revealed 27% with no symptoms, 53% mild symptoms, 17% moderate and 3% severe symptoms of PTS. There was good correlation between the scoring systems for moderate and severe disease, but the modified PTS may have overestimated the incidence of mild PTS.

Severe symptomatic PTS is rare following early detection and treatment of DVT after total hip and knee replacement.