The Preoperative Prevalence and Postoperative Incidence of Thromboembolism in Patients With Hip Fractures Treated With Dextran Prophylaxis

Abstract

A prospective preoperative and postoperative venographic study of hip fracture patients has documented a significant preoperative prevalence and postoperative incidence of thromboembolic disease. A statistically higher incidence of deep-venous thrombosis is observed in patients with femoral neck fractures compared to patients with intertrochanteric fractures. A 9% (15 of 176) preoperative prevalence and an 11% (12 of 108) incidence of new postoperative thromboembolic disease were detected. There was a predilection for deep-venous thrombosis in the injured extremity compared to the noninjured extremity both preop-eratively and postoperatively.