Low-molecular-weight-heparin and prevention of preoperative deep vein thrombosis in acetabular fractures

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the role of low-molecular-weight-heparin (LMWH) in prevention of preoperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients with acetabular fractures. Methods Regular DVT prophylaxis was conducted with LMWH for 100 consecutive patients who received treatment of acetabularfractures after June 2007. Another 100 patients who had received treatment of acetabular fracture without DVT prophylaxis before June 2007 were chosen as controls. In the prophylaxis group, there were 78 men and 22 women, aged from 17 to 80 years (average, 39. 3 ± 12. 5 years). In the nonprophylaxis group, there were 81 men and 19 women, aged from 18 to 78 years (average, 40. 6 ± 12. 1 years) . The 2 groups did not differ significantly in gender, age, complications, or duration from injury to hospitalization. The DVT incidences were compared between the 2 groups. Results There were 23 cases of DVT in the nonprophylaxis group and 11 in the prophylaxis group. The difference in DVT incidence was significant (x2 = 5. 103, P = 0. 024).The average time of DVT diagnosis was 9. 5 days (from 3 to 25 days) in the prophylaxis group and 8. 4 days (from one to 20 days) in the nonprophylaxis group, with no significant difference (t = 1. 448, P = 0. 156).Conclusion LMWH prophylaxis can effectively reduce the incidence of thrombosis, but can not annihilate DVT occurrence. Therefore, patients should still be carefully monitored after preventive medication in the treatment of acetabular fractures. Key words: Acetabulum; Fractures; Venous thrombosis; Heparin, low-molecular-weight