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Incidence and Risk Factors for Venous Thromboembolic Disease in Podiatric Surgery
Andrew H. Felcher; Richard A. Mularski; David M. Mosen; Teresa M. Kimes; Thomas G. DeLougehry and Steven E. Laxson Chest, doi:10.1378/chest.08-1631
Quote:
Background: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality ranks prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) as a top priority for patient safety, however, no guidelines or population-based research exist to guide management for podiatric surgery patients. The objective of our study was to determine the incidence and risk factors for post-procedure VTE in podiatric surgery.
Methods: A five-year retrospective analysis of patients undergoing podiatric surgery in a large not-for-profit health maintenance organization serving > 485,000 members in the Pacific Northwest from 1999 to 2004.
Results: We identified 16,804 surgical procedures in 7,264 patients and detected 22 symptomatic post-procedure VTEs. The overall incidence of post-procedure VTE was 0.30%. Three risk factors were significantly and independently associated with VTE in podiatric surgery: prior VTE (incidence 4.6%, RR 23.0, p < 0.001), use of hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives (incidence 0.55%, RR 4.2, p = 0.01) and obesity (incidence 0.48%, RR 3.0, p = 0.02).
Conclusions: We identified a low overall risk of VTE in podiatric surgery suggesting that routine prophylaxis is not warranted. However, for patients with a history of prior VTE, peri-procedure prophylaxis is suggested based on the level of risk. For podiatry surgery patients with two or more risk factors for VTE, peri-procedure prophylaxis should be considered. Until a prospective study is completed testing recommendations, guidelines and care decisions for podiatric surgery patients will continue to be based on retrospective data, expert consensus, and clinical judgment.
Diagnostic and operative codes are routinely collected for every patient admitted to hospital in the English NHS. Data on post-operative complications following foot and ankle surgery have not previously been available in large numbers. Data on symptomatic venous thromboembolism events and mortality within 90 days were extracted for patients undergoing fixation of an ankle fracture, first metatarsal osteotomy, hindfoot fusions and total ankle replacement over a period of 42 months. For ankle fracture surgery (45 949 patients), the rates of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism and mortality were 0.12%, 0.17% and 0.37%, respectively. For first metatarsal osteotomy (33 626 patients), DVT, pulmonary embolism and mortality rates were 0.01%, 0.02% and 0.04%, and for hindfoot fusions (7033 patients) the rates were 0.03%, 0.11% and 0.11%, respectively. The rate of pulmonary embolism in 1633 total ankle replacement patients was 0.06%, and there were no recorded DVTs and no deaths. Statistical analysis could only identify risk factors for venous thromboembolic events of increasing age and multiple comorbidities following fracture surgery.
Venous thromboembolism following foot and ankle surgery is extremely rare, but this subset of fracture patients is at a higher risk. However, there is no evidence that thromboprophylaxis reduces this risk, and these national data suggest that prophylaxis is not required in most of these patients.
Background
The incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is unknown in elective foot and ankle surgery. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recently published guidelines on reducing the risk of venous thromboembolism in surgical patients. This includes patients undergoing elective foot and ankle surgery.
Method
In March 2010 we surveyed the current practice in VTE prophylaxis in elective foot and ankle surgery amongst members of the British Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (BOFAS).
Results
The response rate was 84 (53%). The total number of elective foot and ankle operations performed by the surveyed group was 33,500 per annum. The estimated incidence of DVT, PE and fatal PE was 0.6%, 0.1% and 0.02%. In our study the number of patients needed to treat to prevent a single fatal PE is 10,000 although this figure is open to important bias.
Conclusion
We question the applicability of the NICE guidelines to patients undergoing elective foot and ankle surgery. We consider that this data justifies the prospective study of the incidence of VTE in patients undergoing elective foot and ankle surgery, without the use of chemical thromboprophylaxis.
Re: Incidence and Risk Factors for Venous Thromboembolic Disease in Podiatric Surgery
The incidence of venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing surgery for acute Achilles tendon ruptures.
Saragas NP, Ferrao PN. Foot Ankle Surg. 2011 Dec;17(4):263-5
Quote:
BACKGROUND:
This retrospective analysis was prompted by the authors' observation of the relatively high incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in the surgical repair of acute Achilles tendon ruptures.
METHOD:
88 patients were treated surgically for an acute Achilles tendon rupture. No prophylactic anticoagulation was given to any patients. The incidence of VTE was then reviewed retrospectively.
RESULTS:
Five patients developed symptomatic deep vein thrombosis (5,7%) and one a near-fatal pulmonary embolus (1.1%). There were no major bleeding or cardiovascular adverse events. One patient developed a thrombus of the lesser saphenous vein (1.1%) and there was one superficial sepsis (1.1%). A temporary peroneal nerve palsy occurred in one patient (1.1%). There were two re-ruptures (2.3%).
CONCLUSION:
There is no doubt that thromboprophylaxis must be given to the high risk patient and is also recommended for major orthopaedic surgery. Limited data is available for the use of thromboprophylaxis in foot and ankle surgery. In light of the unacceptably high incidence of venous thromboembolism in this study, the authors suggest that routine venous thromboembolism prophylaxis should be considered for these patients.
Re: Incidence and Risk Factors for Venous Thromboembolic Disease in Foot Surgery
Incidence of venous thromboembolism in elective foot and ankle surgery with
and without aspirin prophylaxis
J. T. Griffiths, L. Matthews, C. J. Pearce, and J. D. F. Calder J Bone Joint Surg Br 2012;94-B 210-214
Quote:
The incidence of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) is thought to be low following foot and ankle surgery, but the routine use of chemoprophylaxis remains controversial. This retrospective study assessed the incidence of symptomatic venous thromboembolic (VTE) complications following a consecutive series of 2654 patients undergoing elective foot and ankle surgery. A total of 1078 patients received 75 mg aspirin as routine thromboprophylaxis between 2003 and 2006 and 1576 patients received no form of chemical thromboprophylaxis between 2007 and 2010. The overall incidence of VTE was 0.42% (DVT, 0.27%; PE, 0.15%) with 27 patients lost to follow-up. If these were included to create a worst case scenario, the overall VTE rate was 1.43%. There was no apparent protective effect against VTE by using aspirin.
We conclude that the incidence of VTE following foot and ankle surgery is very low and routine use of chemoprophylaxis does not appear necessary for patients who are not in the high risk group for VTE.
Re: Incidence and Risk Factors for Venous Thromboembolic Disease in Foot Surgery
Is Venous Foot Pump Effective In Prevention of Thromboembolic Disease After Joint Arthroplasty: A Meta-Analysis.
Pour AE, Keshavarzi NR, Purtill JJ, Sharkey PF, Parvizi J. J Arthroplasty. 2012 Oct 24. pii: S0883-5403(12)00571-2.
Quote:
The goal of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of venous foot pumps in prevention of venous thromboembolism following joint arthroplasty. Using different databases, we found 13 prospective clinical trials published meeting our inclusion criteria. In total, 1514 patients were included in the final analysis. Venous foot pump devices are effective in prevention of venous thromboembolic disease after total hip and knee arthroplasty compared to chemoprophylaxis. This was especially significant in prevention of major deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary emboli rate. The use of mechanical devices like venous calf or foot pump, either alone or in combination with less potent chemical prophylaxis, on the other hand can reduce the rate of venous thromboembolism and complications of potent chemoprophylaxis like wound hematoma.
Re: Incidence and Risk Factors for Venous Thromboembolic Disease in Foot Surgery
Deep Venous Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism as Rare Complications After
Hallux Valgus Surgery: Case Report and Literature Review
Faik Altintas, Turhan Ozler, Melih Guven, Afsar Timucin Ozkut, and Cagatay Ulucay J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 2013;103 145-148
Quote:
The incidence and life-threatening complications of thromboembolic disease after major orthopedic surgical procedures have been extensively defined in the medical literature. However, there are few studies concerning the incidence of thromboembolic disease after foot and ankle surgery. We describe a 57-year-old female patient who underwent surgery for bilateral hallux valgus deformities and was diagnosed as having deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism after the surgery despite early mobilization and mechanical prohylaxis. Her preoperative physical examination revealed varicose veins in both cruris. She was treated for pulmonary embolism with low-molecular-weight heparin and an oral anticoagulant in the postoperative period. Although venous thromboembolism is more commonly described after proximal lower-extremity procedures, it can occur after foot and ankle surgery, particularly if the patient has certain risk factors. Therefore, in addition to mechanical prophylaxis, pharmacologic prophylaxis should be kept in mind in such patients.
Incidence and Risk Factors for Venous Thromboembolic Disease in Foot Surgery
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