Administration of enoxaparin 24 h after total knee arthroplasty: safer for bleeding and equally effective for deep venous thrombosis prevention

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the safety and effectiveness, as assessed by risk of bleeding and incidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), of administering delayed low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) after total knee arthroplasty. A prospective study of 210 consecutive patients undergoing primary unilateral total knee arthroplasty was undertaken. The patients were randomized into two groups: one of which was managed according to a standard LMWH program (LMWH-s group) and the other with delayed LMWH (LMWH-p). LMWH was initiated 12h after wound closure in the LMWH-s group, and 24h after wound closure in the LMWH-p group. The total blood loss in the first three postoperative days was calculated and all complications were recorded. The mean total blood loss was 435 and 387mL in the LMWH-s group and LMWH-p group, respectively (p<0.01). No significant difference in the incidence of symptomatic DVT was observed. The mean length of hospital stay was 7.29days in the LMWH-s group and 6.56days in the LMWH-p group (p<0.05). After total knee arthroplasty, LMWH-p is safer for bleeding than LMWH-s and equally effective concerning prevention of DVT.