The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Feb 2010
Meta AnalysisThe prevalence of and specific risk factors for venous thromboembolic disease following elective spine surgery.
Venous thromboembolic disease, including deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, is a serious and potentially life-threatening complication following orthopaedic surgical procedures. We sought to investigate the prevalence of thromboembolism as well as the efficacy and complications of various prophylactic measures in a population of patients who had undergone elective spine surgery. ⋯ The risk of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism is relatively low following elective spine surgery, particularly for patients who receive pharmacologic prophylaxis. Unfortunately, pharmacologic prophylaxis exposes patients to a greater risk of epidural hematoma. More evidence is needed prior to establishing a protocol for prophylaxis against venous thromboembolic disease in patients undergoing elective spine surgery. Future prospective studies should seek to define the safety of various prophylactic modalities and to identify specific subpopulations of patients who are at greater risk for venous thromboembolism.