title: Thromboembolic complications following trauma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Some studies have reported an increased incidence of thromboembolic complications following trauma.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a literature review and queried the National Trauma Data Bank to more closely examine the incidence of a variety of thromboembolic complications following injury.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thromboembolic events are rare, but occur at a greater rate in more severely injured patients. It is unclear, however, whether the incidence of thromboembolic complications in trauma patients is on the rise overall. Differences in study populations, particularly injury severity scores, as well as different methods of screening, diagnosis, prophylaxis, and treatment have led to extreme differences in reported rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While recent research has added to the body of knowledge, continued efforts focusing on risk stratification, diagnosis, screening, prophylaxis, and treatment are necessary to rationally understand the spectrum of thrombotic complications.
authors: U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, USA.
authors: Daniel F
authors: DF
authors: McLaughlin
authors: Charles E
authors: CE
authors: Wade
authors: Howard R
authors: HR
authors: Champion
authors: Jose
authors: J
authors: Salinas
authors: John B
authors: JB
authors: Holcomb
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000209:etiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications*