Prophylaxis using heparin and low molecular weight heparin
Heparins and some mechanical pumping devices may help prevent blood clots forming in the legs after surgery for hip fracture
Patients with hip fracture may develop blood clots (thrombosis) in their legs. Some of these blood clots may travel to the lungs and cause...

Thromboembolism encompasses two interrelated conditions that are part of the same spectrum, deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). PE is the obstruction of blood flow to one or more arteries of the lung by a thrombus lodged in a pulmonary vessel (see Image 1). PE and DVT can...

Total knee replacement has become an acceptable method of treating severe arthritis of the knee. The operative procedure must be performed with precise skill and accuracy. Meticulous alignment of the prosthetic components can reduce many of the complications.
Fine attention to general operating technique with adroit handling of tissues and efficient...

Thrombosis is a naturally occurring physiologic process. Under normal circumstances, a physiologic balance is present between factors that promote and retard coagulation. A disturbance in this equilibrium may result in the coagulation process occurring at an inopportune time or location or in an excessive manor. Alternatively, failure of the normal...

AAOS Online Service Fact SheetDeep Vein Thrombosis Highly Reputable

Thrombosis risk tests check for defects in the anti-coagulant system (hypercoagubility) that can cause a predisposition to thrombosis. The D-dimer test is used to screen for the presence of fibrin associated with deep vein and other forms of thrombosis.

Routine thromboprophylaxis following elective hip and knee replacement surgery remains a controversial topic. No one disputes that patients undergoing these surgical procedures are at risk for deep vein thrombosis. The combination of stasis, endothelial wall injury and hypercoagulability are almost routine following this type of hip and knee surgery. It...

Spinal cord injury (SCI) can result in clinically significant compromise of cardiovascular control with associated short- and long-term consequences.1, 2 Impaired control of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), especially in individuals with high thoracic and cervical SCI, can result in various problems, such as hypotension, bradycardia, and autonomic dysreflexia.3, 4...

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) are common complications of acute spinal cord injury (SCI) and a major cause of morbidity and mortality in this patient population. Many patients with SCI do not receive DVT prophylaxis in the acute care setting, perhaps secondary to concomitant medical problems that...

Clinical Signs for DVT:
- exam may be unreliable but positive findings should not be ignored;
- calf tenderness, swelling, fever, & increased pulse rate may be present
- suggestive exam features for pulmonary embolism:
...

Discussion of Sequential Compression Devices (SCDs) in the perioperative period AORN Journal, April 2004 Good discussion of the risk factors for DVT

Hip Fractures—A Joint Effort (Nursing Center CE This article describes the efforts of a interdisciplinary team to develop and implement a hip fracture protocol that directs the care of patients from admission in the emergency room to a planned discharge. The ideal process of care is driven by quality measures and...

Aspirin may be the most effective choice to prevent pulmonary embolism (PE) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery, according to a new study examining a potential role for aspirin in these patients. Aspirin is not currently recommended by the American College of Chest Physicians to help prevent deep...