Pharmacological prevention of venous thromboembolism in orthopaedic surgery

The prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism (VTE) with anticoagulant drugs is a long-established practice in hip and knee replacement surgery, as well as in the treatment of femoral neck fractures, while there are few data regarding the prevention of VTE in other fields of orthopaedic surgery and traumatology. In order to provide practical recommendations for daily management of VTE prophylaxis in orthopaedic patients, recently the Italian Societies of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Orthopaedics and Traumatology and Anaesthesia have drawn up a first Intersociety Consensus on antithrombotic prophylaxis in total hip and knee replacement surgery, and in the treatment of femoral neck fracture, then updated in 2013, and a subsequent Intersocietary Consensus, in cooperation also with the Society of general practitioners, concerning antithrombotic prophylaxis in other types of orthopaedic surgery and traumatology. Before starting any prophylactic treatment it is of crucial importance the assessment of both thrombotic and bleeding risk of patients undergoing surgery. Thromboembolic prophylaxis is recommended with low molecular weight heparins (LMWH), fondaparinux (FON) or with the new oral anticoagulants (NOA) in patients undergoing hip and knee replacement surgery while patients undergoing treatment of femoral neck fracture should be treated with LMWH or FON. Regarding the non-prosthetic orthopaedic surgery and traumatology, it is recommended prophylaxis with LMWH or FON in situations of high thromboembolic risk or in the case of interventions or trauma involving pelvis, acetabulum or knee.