Abstract
Aims
The incidence of deep vein thrombosis, non-fatal pulmonary embolism and fatal pulmonary embolism may be as high as 61%, 10% and 2%, respectively, in patients with pelvic and acetabular injuries. A survey of the pelvic and acetabular units across the United Kingdom was performed to ascertain the thrombo-prophylaxis policy for these patients. In particular, questions were asked about different regimes on post-operative patients, conservatively managed patients and those simply discussed over the telephone. We enquired about their known rates of DVT and PE and their methods of data collection.
Methods
Postal questionnaires were sent to 22 pelvic and acetabular trauma centres around the United Kingdom.
Results
Replies from 18 units were received in which a total of 837 operations are performed per year. Forty-five percent of pelvic and acetabular units do not routinely prescribe chemical prophylaxis for post-operative patients and 56% do not prescribe prophylaxis for conservatively managed patients. The policy of the remaining units showed no consistency in duration or agent. Fifty-three percent of units use a database to collect information related to the numbers of patients operated up on. Forty-seven percent have no defined method for collecting DVT and PE numbers. For this reason, reported rates of proximal DVT, non-fatal PE and fatal PE were below that expected at 2.5%, 0.8% and 0.1%, respectively.
Conclusions
Despite high rates of thrombo-embolic complications in patients with pelvic and acetabular injuries there is no UK consensus on prescribing prophylaxis.
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The authors declare that in preparing, designing or carrying out this study there was no conflict of interest and no study sponsor.
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Guryel, E., Pearce, R., Rickman, M. et al. Thrombo-prophylaxis in pelvic and acetabular trauma patients: a UK consensus?. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 36, 165–169 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-011-1276-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-011-1276-9