Abstract

SARAGAS, NP; FERRAO, PNF; SARAGAS, E  and  JACOBSON, BF. Venous thromboembolic disease in hallux surgery. SA orthop. j. [online]. 2014, vol.13, n.3, pp.28-31. ISSN 2309-8309.

INTRODUCTION: Hallux surgery is the most commonly performed elective surgery in the foot and ankle. As with all surgery, there are many potential complications quoted in the literature. Venous thromboembolism (deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism) prophylaxis, however, is not adequately addressed and remains controversial. MATERIALS AND METHOD: This prospective study includes 100 patients who underwent hallux surgery. Risk factors implicated to increase the risk of developing venous thromboembolic disease as well as anaesthetic time, thigh tourniquet time and regional anaesthetic blocks were documented. Compressive ultrasonography was performed in all the patients post-operatively. RESULTS: There was one incident of calf deep vein thrombosis (DVT). No patient developed a pulmonary embolus. The one patient who developed a DVT was not at any higher risk than the average patient in the study. CONCLUSION: As a result of the low incidence of venous thromboembolic disease in this study, the authors do not recommend the routine use of chemical venous thrombo-prophylaxis in patients undergoing hallux surgery. The decision to give post-operative anticoagulation remains the surgeon's responsibility. The duration of prophylaxis will depend on when the patient is fully mobile. LEVEL: 2

Keywords : hallux surgery; venous thromboembolism.

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