Life-threatening in the short term and leading to a high level of morbidity in the long term, venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the most fearful complication following lower limb arthroplasty. With advances in surgical procedure, anesthetic management and postoperative convalescence have altered the risks of venous thromboembolism after total joint arthroplasty in the lower extremity. The pathogenesis of VTE is multifactorial and includes the well-known Virchow's triad of hypercoagulability, venous stasis and endothelial damage. Therefore, it is appropriate to use a multimodal approach to thromboprophylaxis. Despite extensive research, the ideal multimodal prophylaxis against venous thrombolism has not been identified. So this article reviews the recent developments in multimodal prophylaxis for thromboembolism after total joint arthroplasty.
Anesthesia, Epidural ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; adverse effects ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; adverse effects ; Aspirin ; therapeutic use ; Factor Xa Inhibitors ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Venous Thromboembolism ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Warfarin ; therapeutic use

Since the late 1980s, low dose aspirin has been used to prevent stroke and ischemic heart disease. However, prophylactic effect of antiplatelets against venous thromboembolism (VTE), in patients who undergo hip fracture surgery (HFS) is controversial. Our purpose was to determine the incidence of symptomatic VTE after HFS and to evaluate whether antiplatelets reduce the development of symptomatic VTE following HFS. We retrospectively reviewed 858 HFS in 824 consecutive patients which were performed from May 2003 to April 2010 at an East Asian institute. We compared the incidence of symptomatic VTE in antiplatelet users and non-users using multivariate logistic regression analyses. Overall incidences of symptomatic pulmonary embolism including fatal pulmonary embolism, and symptomatic deep vein thrombosis in this study were 2.4% (21/858), and 3.5% (30/858), respectively. The incidence of symptomatic VTE was 4.8% (12/250) in antiplatelet users and 4.3% (26/608) in non-users (P = 0.718). It is suggested that antiplatelet agents are not effective in prevention of symptomatic VTE after HFS.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anticoagulants/therapeutic use ; Aspirin/administration & dosage/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Female ; Hip Fractures/complications/*surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors/*therapeutic use ; Postoperative Complications/drug therapy/*epidemiology/*prevention & control ; Regression Analysis ; Venous Thromboembolism/complications/*epidemiology/*prevention & control

Intermittent Pneumatic Compression (IPC) device has been used to prevent venous thromboembolism (VTE). This study investigated the effectiveness of IPC device. We evaluated incidences of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients after use of IPC device, and compared with historical incidences from our institution. We applied IPC device in 741 patients who underwent 870 elective primary THAs from January 2010 to December 2013, DVT was detected in 3 patients (0.3%) by sonography, and one (0.1%) of them was symptomatic. Symptomatic PE occurred in 1 patient (0.1%) and there were no cases of fatal PE. The incidence of symptomatic DVT was significantly lower than the historical control (P = 0.042). The IPC is a safe and effective prophylaxis of VTE after primary THA in Korea.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip/*adverse effects ; Humans ; Incidence ; *Intermittent Pneumatic Compression Devices ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications/etiology ; Pulmonary Embolism/diagnostic imaging/epidemiology/*prevention & control ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Ultrasonography ; Venous Thromboembolism/diagnostic imaging/epidemiology/*prevention & control ; Young Adult

Intermittent Pneumatic Compression (IPC) device has been used to prevent venous thromboembolism (VTE). This study investigated the effectiveness of IPC device. We evaluated incidences of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients after use of IPC device, and compared with historical incidences from our institution. We applied IPC device in 741 patients who underwent 870 elective primary THAs from January 2010 to December 2013, DVT was detected in 3 patients (0.3%) by sonography, and one (0.1%) of them was symptomatic. Symptomatic PE occurred in 1 patient (0.1%) and there were no cases of fatal PE. The incidence of symptomatic DVT was significantly lower than the historical control (P = 0.042). The IPC is a safe and effective prophylaxis of VTE after primary THA in Korea.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip/*adverse effects ; Humans ; Incidence ; *Intermittent Pneumatic Compression Devices ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications/etiology ; Pulmonary Embolism/diagnostic imaging/epidemiology/*prevention & control ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Ultrasonography ; Venous Thromboembolism/diagnostic imaging/epidemiology/*prevention & control ; Young Adult