After Total Knee Arthroplasty, which postoperative orders are appropriate to reduce risk of DVT and aid recovery?

• A. LMWH for DVT Prophylaxis
• B. Rehab or Physical Therapy Post-Op
• C. Both LMWH and Rehab
• D. No Meds or Therapy

Answer: (C)

After a knee replacement, the body is at high risk for forming clots while also needing to regain strength and function. Using a blood-thinning medicine like low-molecular-weight heparin after surgery reduces the chance of developing deep vein thrombosis by interfering with clot formation. At the same time, starting rehabilitation and encouraging early movement helps the leg muscles act as pumps to push blood back toward the heart, reducing venous stasis and aiding recovery of motion and function. Together, these approaches address both clot prevention and physical recovery, making the combination the best postoperative plan. Relying on either one alone misses an important piece of the protection or recovery. Doing nothing would leave the patient exposed to preventable complications.