Leveraging Digital Platforms to Investigate Deep Vein Thrombosis Frequency among Spinal Surgery Candidates

Background: In recent years, the convergence of medical research and digital technology has opened up new avenues for exploring intricate healthcare dynamics. Deep Vein Thrombosis, a potentially life-threatening condition characterized by the formation of blood clots in deep veins, is of paramount concern for surgical candidates due to the inherent immobilization associated with postoperative recovery. This study aimed to evaluate the utilization of digital platforms for investigating the frequency of Deep Vein Thrombosis among candidates for spinal surgery.Methods: This retrospective study, conducted at Hazrat Rasool Akram (PBUH) hospital, Tehran, Iran between February 2014 and February 2019, investigated Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) frequency among spinal surgery candidates using digital platforms. Electronic health records (EHR) were collected and preprocessed, integrating processed data on a secure cloud-based platform for collaborative access and advanced analytics. These records contain comprehensive information about a patient’s medical history, diagnoses, medications, treatment plans, immunization dates, allergies, radiology images, and laboratory test results. Collecting EHR involves gathering electronic data from various sources within the hospital database. After examining them, 218 patients were included in the present study. Data analysis entails STATA software, applying descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and associations between ultrasound findings and clinical variables.Results: The mean age of these patients was 49.22±11.22 years. The frequency of DVT in candidates for back surgery was 1.83%. Regarding D-dimer investigation, the results of our study showed that all 4 patients with DVT had high D-dimer, while only 34 patients of all patients without DVT had high D-dimer levels. The results showed that the presence of the history of hospitalization reduces the risk of DVT in patients who were candidates for back surgery (P=0.028), while the high level of serum D-dimer was an important warning sign for the occurrence of DVT in patients who were candidates for back surgery (P=0.001). Conclusion: This study showcases the value of digital platforms in investigating Deep Vein Thrombosis frequency among spinal surgery candidates, highlighting the associations between D-dimer levels, medical history, and DVT risk. These findings offer insights that can inform clinical assessments and interventions for this patient population.