Objective To explore the effects of'quaternary' education management on the prevention and control of lower extremity venous thrombosis in hospitalized orthopedic patients.Methods A total of 1158 hospitalized orthopedic patients treated in Guangyuan Central Hospital from May 2010 to April 2013 were recruited into the control group, which received routine thromboprophylaxis interventions. A number of 1192 hospitalized orthopedic patients from May 2013 to April 2016 were selected as the observation group, which received additional 'quaternary' education management. The length of stay, incidences of lower limb swelling, lower extremity deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, and nursing satisfaction were compared between the two groups.Results The average length of stay of the observation group and the control group were (33.6±11.2) d and (38.7±12.3) d respectively. The hospitalization time of observation group was shorter than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (t=3.201,P<0.01). The proportions of lower limb swelling, lower limb vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in the observation group were statistically significantly lower than those in the control group (χ2=61.203, 43.417, 4.682;P<0.05). The satisfaction with health education, service attitude, ward management, care and communication ability of patients in the observation group were higher than that in the control group, with statistically significant differences between the two groups (P<0.01).Conclusions 'Quaternary' education management mode can shorten the hospitalization time of patients, reduce the incidence of lower limb swelling, venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, and improve the nursing satisfaction.