Current UK opinion on thromboprophylaxis in orthopaedic surgery: its use in routine total hip and knee arthroplasty.
- 1 September 1995
- journal article
- Vol. 77 (5) , 351-4
Abstract
We surveyed all surgically qualified members of the British Orthopaedic Association as to their views on thromboprophylaxis in routine total hip and knee replacement. The response rate was 92%. In total hip replacement, 13-15% of surgeons used no method of prophylaxis at all, 18-22% did not use a mechanical method of prophylaxis, while 26% did not use a pharamacological agent; 36% believed low-dose anticoagulant thromboprophylaxis to be a medicolegal necessity while 47% disagreed with this. In total knee replacement, 18-33% of surgeons used no method of prophylaxis at all, 20-26% did not use a mechanical method of prophylaxis, while 54-58% did not use a pharmacological agent; 12 believed low-dose anticoagulant thromboprophylaxis to be a medicolegal necessity, while 64% disagreed with this. We conclude that mechanical methods remain a popular method of thromboprophylaxis and pharmacological methods, while commonly used, are not seen as a medicolegal requirement in lower limb arthroplasty and are used less often in total knee replacement.This publication has 7 references indexed in Scilit:
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