Efficacy Study of the COmbination of Edoxaban and Physiotherapy on the PRevention of Venous-Thromboembolism in patients after Total Knee Arthroplasty (ESCORT-TKA Trial): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) often results in a fatal pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). Edoxaban is an activated factor X inhibitor, which has been shown to prevent thromboembolic events in venous thromboembolism (VTE). Recently, the Total-Thrombus-formation Analysis System (T-TAS™), a microchip-based flow chamber system capable of evaluating thrombogenicity, was developed. In this study, utilizing the T-TAS™, we will examine the incidence of VTE after TKA and evaluate how thromboses form. Methods/design This study will be a prospective, single-center, open-label, randomized, controlled clinical trial aimed at exploring the efficacy of edoxaban in reducing the incidence of VTE after TKA. A total of 80 patients who will undergo TKA will be randomly and evenly divided into groups receiving edoxaban plus physiotherapy or physiotherapy alone. The primary outcome measures will include the incidence rate of VTE as detected by ultrasonography 7 days after TKA and the changes in T-TAS™ parameters. The secondary outcome measures will include the changes in prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time, incidence of major/minor bleeding events and adverse effects of edoxaban. Discussion This study will provide clinical evidence on the combined efficacy and safety of edoxaban and physiotherapy compared with that of physiotherapy alone. This is will be the first prospective trial designed to explore how thrombus formation after TKA can be predicted by the T-TAS™.