A common risk after any surgery, including orthopedic surgery, is Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).

Therefore many orthopedic surgeons focus on preventing the development of DVT post-surgery. DVT affects an estimated 1 to 2 per 1,000 Americans per year.

WHAT IS DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS (DVT)?

Deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, occurs when a blood clot forms in one of the deep veins of the body. This can happen if a vein becomes damaged or if the blood flow within a vein slows down or stops. Two common risk factors for DVT are experiencing an injury to your lower body and having surgery that involves your hips or legs – both common situations orthopedic doctors encounter.

A DVT can have serious consequences. If a blood clot breaks free, it may travel through the bloodstream and block blood flow to the lungs. Although rare, this complication—called a pulmonary embolism—can be fatal. Even if a blood clot does not break free, it may cause permanent damage to the valves in the vein. This damage can lead to long-term problems in the leg such as pain, swelling, and leg sores.

Often, DVT occurs without noticeable symptoms and is hard to detect. This is why focusing on preventing DVTs – especially post-surgery – is important.

POST-SURGICAL DVT PREVENTION THERAPY

Sanus DME offers post-surgical DVT prevention therapy in the form of Pulsar DVT Therapy, which is a lightweight, portable pneumatic compression system that aids in the prevention of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). To further enhance a patient’s recovery, we offer Pulsar DVT Therapy with Recovery+ which adds heat and cool therapy to the Pulsar DVT prophylaxis compression system.

HIGH TOUCH AT-HOME DELIVERY

A Sanus DME representative will typically deliver the Pulsar device directly to a patient’s home and show them how to use it. If a patient has any questions or challenges using the device, they will have access to their Sanus rep by phone or email as well as 24/7 support through the patient portal.

Sanus DME is a true coordinated care post-surgical model. Patients that are referred by their doctors to Sanus DME stay connected to their physician in a way that is not typical in healthcare. It’s a win-win for both patients and physicians.

—Brian Gruber, MD, MBA, Board Certified Orthopedic Physician