Little Things That Mean A Lot in Orthopaedic Surgery

We know major orthopedic procedures such as joint replacement and hip fracture are associated with a significant risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and require prophylaxis with aspirin or traditional anticoagulants. This lecture will highlight the risks associated with simple orthopedic procedures that are not themselves associated with a significant risk of VTE. In fact, some of these procedures such as arthroscopy, or quadriceps tendon repair may be associated with a very high risk of VTE. This phenomenon occurs when the patient has thrombosis risk factors such as obesity, cancer, or history or family history of VTE. In addition postoperative immobility, casts, and non-weight bearing add to the degree of risk.