The study determined that minor leg injuries increase the possibility of deep vein thrombosis, or of blood clot in the lungs - two incidents that are considered to be dangerous.
Experts led by Karlijn van Stralen of the Netherland's Leiden University Medical Centre observed a total of 2,471 patients diagnosed with either of the two blood clot conditions between 1999 and 2004. The Press Association reported that the patients were asked to fill out survey forms inquiring about any obtained injuries, surgeries, casts, or any other kinds of conditions that immobilized them, within a year before obtaining the clots.
After comparing the answers with those of 3,534 volunteers who had never had any blood clots, scientists discovered that 11.7 percent of the blood clot patients had suffered a minor injury three months before developing the condition. A matched control group without the condition came up at 4.4 percent.
The scientists discovered that patients who sustained injuries not requiring immobilization where three times more likely to experience blood clots.
Medpage Today quoted the study, which surmised that patients would refer to physicians regarding their injuries.
"Many individuals with minor injuries will have contacted the general practitioner first," it read. "Therefore, there may be an important task for general practitioners to identify subjects who are at a high risk of developing venous thrombosis and, subsequently, to provide prophylactic measures."
The study was published in an issue of the journal Archives of Internal Medicine.
