OBJECTIVETo evaluate the application of inferior vena cava filter (IVCF) in prevention of peri-operative pulmonary embolism (PE) in lower limb bone fracture patients with deep venous thrombosis (DVT).

METHODSFrom January 2003 to December 2012, 2 248 cases of lower limb and pelvic fractures with DVT were retrospectively analyzed. Before the procedure of IVCF implantation began, January 2003 to December 2007, there were 1 052 cases of acute trauma patients with DVT were classified as the group of early none-IVCF. The IVCF implantation was began since January 2008. From that time to December 2012, 712 cases of bone fractures with DVT received filter implantation, which were classified as IVCF group. The other 484 patients who had not undergone filter deployment were divided as group of late none-IVCF. The baseline conditions of the three groups were significantly different in addition to the ages between group of early none-IVCF and IVCF group. The incidences of PE and mortality of PE in each group were recorded and analyzed by χ(2) test.

RESULTSThere were totally 31 cases of symptomatic PE, among which 12 cases died. Totally 712 filters were deployed successfully without any major complications. The incidences of symptomatic PE were 0.14% (1/712), 2.19% (23/1 052) and 1.45% (7/484) in IVCF group, group of early none-IVCF and group of late none-IVCF, respectively. The mortality of PE were 0 (0/712), 0.86% (9/1 052) and 0.62% (3/484) in these groups. The incidence of symptomatic PE in IVCF group was significantly different from that in the group of early and late none-IVCF (χ(2) = 11.762, P = 0.001; χ(2) = 7.395, P = 0.007, respectively). The mortality of IVCF group was also significantly lower compared with the other two groups (χ(2) = 6.122, P = 0.013; χ(2) = 4.424, P = 0.035, respectively).

CONCLUSIONIVCF implantation effectively prevents symptomatic and fatal PE of patients of lower limb and pelvic fractures with DVT in the peri-operative period.