title: Current UK opinion on thromboprophylaxis in orthopaedic surgery: its use in routine total hip and knee arthroplasty.
abstract: We surveyed all surgically qualified members of the British Orthopaedic Association as to their views on thromboprophylaxis in routine total hip and knee replacement. The response rate was 92%. In total hip replacement, 13-15% of surgeons used no method of prophylaxis at all, 18-22% did not use a mechanical method of prophylaxis, while 26% did not use a pharamacological agent; 36% believed low-dose anticoagulant thromboprophylaxis to be a medicolegal necessity while 47% disagreed with this. In total knee replacement, 18-33% of surgeons used no method of prophylaxis at all, 20-26% did not use a mechanical method of prophylaxis, while 54-58% did not use a pharmacological agent; 12 believed low-dose anticoagulant thromboprophylaxis to be a medicolegal necessity, while 64% disagreed with this. We conclude that mechanical methods remain a popular method of thromboprophylaxis and pharmacological methods, while commonly used, are not seen as a medicolegal requirement in lower limb arthroplasty and are used less often in total knee replacement.
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants