Blood Clot Danger From Minor Leg Injuries
A new study published this week found that even the smallest leg injuries put patients at risk for developing life threatening blood clots. Even the slightest sprained ankle or pulled muscle can be responsible for causing blood clots in leg veins. This came as a surprise for many researchers, who believe that this may be the number one unrecognized cause of blood clots.
The amount of time that the patient is at risk for developing a blood clot was quite long. The study found that the risk remains for at least ten weeks after the injury occurs. It is believed that this may be attributed to damage that is done to blood vessels in a sprain or pull that may go undetected. Another contributing risk factor is that patients with these injuries generally are less mobile while they recover, increasing the chances of developing a life threatening clot.