title: Towards evidence-based emergency medicine: best BETs from the Manchester Royal Infirmary. Evidence exists to guide thromboembolic prophylaxis in ambulatory patients with temporary lower limb immobilisation.
abstract: A short-cut review was carried out to establish whether patients requiring lower limb immobilisation should have thromboprophylaxis. A total of 148 papers were found using the reported search, of which four presented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The author, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results and study weaknesses of these best papers are tabulated. The clinical bottom line is that ambulatory patients with temporary lower leg immobilisation who are over 50, in a rigid cast, non-weight bearing or with a severe injury should be considered as an at risk group for venous thromboembolism (VTE). If there are any other current proven VTE risk factors, patients should be considered as high risk.
authors.affiliation: Central Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Horner
mesh_terms: D002370:Casts, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity; D012307:Risk Factors; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult