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profligate coagulum behind the knee which in aesculapian term is call as popliteal vein thrombosis is quite a serious medical condition . It can cause potentially serious complication , if it is not treat on time . The most vulgar complication of a blood clot behind the human knee is pulmonary embolism . Anatomically speak , the popliteal vein runs behind the knee and transports ancestry from the back of the knee to the heart . The symptom of a line clot behind the knee include painfulness and swelling along with erythema around the articulatio genus and the leg region.[2 ]
The blood clot occurs as a answer of reduced blood flow to the popliteal vein or damage to the line of descent vas in the area . It may also occur as a result of a trauma or harm to the back half of the knee . This commonly happens during a tackle while playing contact sportswoman like football game or rugby football . A study conducted on the prevalence of blood clot behind the knee report that out of 3000 people who were diagnosed as having thrombosis in the lower extremities around 2 % of mass had blood coagulum behind the stifle . This charge to the rarity of the condition.[1 ]
The primary cause in these affirm subject of blood coagulum behind the knee was believed to be long bus or airplane rides where the knee was in inflection for protract periods of time . Among all the participants , the first sign of a thrombosis was observed after a diagnosis of pulmonary intercalation . To further study the pathogenesis of this shape , the popliteal nervure were study in varied operational states . This revealed folds when the knee was in flexion which were age - interrelate and leave in transient impairment of parentage flow behind the knee.[1 ]
The cogitation conclude that prolong flexion of the genu along with harm of venous backflowing were the cause for the ontogeny of blood clots behind the knee.[1 ]
What Causes Blood Clot Behind Knee?
The popliteal vein carries blood from the branch to the substandard vein cava in the heart . A blood coagulum behind the knee becomes life - threatening when the clots breaks spare and auberge in the lungs causingpulmonary intercalation . Reduced or impaired roue menstruation to the leg and knee is believed to be the primary effort of blood clot behind the knee .
Why does this happen is not entirely unmortgaged but farsighted plane rides where the stifle is in flexion for keep up period is one of the lawsuit . In some cases , there is no obvious cause place for the blood clot behind the knee.[2 ]
There are sure risk factor that increase the risk of an case-by-case developing bloodline clot behind the knee joint . These risk agent let in being on bed rest for tenacious periods of sentence . This is unremarkably seen in the senior universe where the individual is literally bedrid . People who abuse nicotine are also at increased jeopardy for train blood clots . maternity also increase the peril of the female developing rake clot behind the knee due to the increase pressure being put on the genu with the weight of the fetus . People who areoverweightor obese are also at increased risk for developing blood clot behind the knee.[2 ]
There are also certain medical condition which can increase an someone ’s risk of exposure for developing stock clot behind the knee . These condition let in certain forms of Cancer the Crab . A fracture of the hip or knee also increases the risk of developing blood clots behind the articulatio genus . hoi polloi who have had an combat injury to the spinal corduroy also lean to develop blood clot behind the knee . People with a syndicate chronicle or a previous medical history of blood coagulum also are at increased risk for developing lineage clot behind the knee.[2 ]
There are also certain genetic conditions like thrombophilia or sickle cell anemia that can develop blood clots behind the knee . At time , surgical operation done to the knee also result in the exploitation of pedigree clot behind the knee . Some females who use parturition control pills or have hormonal imbalance and are on internal secretion replacement therapy also tend to develop blood clots behind the knee . Age also play a function in the growth of blood clots in that it is commonly date in people above the age of 60.[2 ]
How is Blood Clot Behind Knee Treated?
Coming to the treatments of line clots behind the genu , there are a mixed bag of option which include
anticoagulant medication : This is the most preferred treatment yield for all shape of ancestry clots , including the one behind the knee . Anticoagulants are normally refer to as pedigree thinners these medications work by preventing formation of line of descent clots and do not allow existing rake clots to progress . This in bend reduces the risk of the private developing pulmonary embolism.[2 ]
The usual course of anticoagulants should be prescribed by specialiser who are experienced in treat blood clots and should not be dictate a ecumenical physician . Some exemplar of common anticoagulant used to care for stock clots behind the knee let in Coumadin and Liquaemin . The initial course of anticoagulants is at maximum twice a sidereal day for a time period of at least three weeks.[2 ]
In some font , a patient role may be asked to carry on these medicinal drug for longer period of time if there is an increased risk for formation of rakehell coagulum in the future . Some multitude feel increased bleeding and easy wound on anticoagulants and should utter with their physician if this occurs.[2 ]
Vena Cava Filter : This discussion is given for people who are not deemed to be a prospect for starting anticoagulant medications and are at increased risk for developing pulmonary intercalation . This gimmick is implanted into the inferior venous blood vessel cava and any clot that trip from the abject appendage through this vein is stopped by this filter from come along towards the lung . This importantly fall the risk of a pulmonic embolism.[2 ]
Thrombolytic Therapy : This form of discourse is reserve for people who have very magnanimous stemma coagulum which can not be treated by anticoagulant therapy alone . This therapy involves administration of medications that dissolve the blood coagulum . At times , it also ask surgically removing the coagulum . In bulk of the case , a exhaustive evaluation of the patient is done before he or she is take for a nominee to undergo this build of treatment for descent clots.[2 ]
Compression Stockings : This is more of a prophylactic mensuration for descent coagulum rather than a treatment . These stocking are designed in such a style that they increase parentage current to the lower extremities admit the knee . This in turn prevents roue clots from work behind the stifle . compaction stockings are only suggested for people with increased risk of coagulum or a previous history of this condition.[2 ]
These stocking are also helpful in preventing post - thrombotic syndrome which is yet another serious complication of parentage clot . An individual with post - thrombotic syndrome will experience severe pain and extrusion in the lower extremities along with a whizz of the ramification feeling heavy . The individual will also have peg cramps on a frequent basis due to this complication.[2 ]
In end , a blood clot behind the genu is medically referred to as popliteal vein thrombosis . It is a serious condition which put the affected individual at risk for developing pulmonic embolism which is a life - threatening status . The most common effort for a origin coagulum behind the knee is when the knee is in flexion for prolong flow of fourth dimension . This is unremarkably find out in long airplane rides.[2 ]
At times , the popliteal vein can get damaged as a result of trauma . This commonly happens during contact sport like rugger and football after being tackled from behind . The damage causes an interruption of blood menses resulting in origin coagulum behind the knee . An mortal with blood coagulum behind the genu should be immediately valuate and pop on treatment to foreclose complication like pulmonary embolism.[2 ]
There are a variety of intervention options for blood coagulum behind the genu in the form of anticoagulants , venous blood vessel cava filters , and even at time operation . The treat Dr. after assessing the condition can formulate the best discourse plan for the patient role to manage blood coagulum behind the knee.[2 ]
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