title: Wound complications following rivaroxaban administration: a multicenter comparison with low-molecular-weight heparins for thromboprophylaxis in lower limb arthroplasty.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The oral anticoagulant rivaroxaban is recommended for venous thromboembolic prophylaxis following lower limb arthroplasty. Concerns regarding high rates of wound complications following its use have prompted this multicenter comparison with low-molecular-weight heparins.
  
  
  METHODS
  English hospital trusts that replaced a low-molecular-weight heparin with rivaroxaban for thromboprophylaxis in lower limb arthroplasty during 2009 were identified. Prospectively collected national data for these units were analyzed to determine the thirty-day rates of wound complications and major bleeding (cerebrovascular event or gastrointestinal hemorrhage) and the ninety-day rates of symptomatic deep venous thrombosis (proximal or distal), symptomatic pulmonary embolism, and all-cause inpatient mortality before and after the change to rivaroxaban. A total of 2762 patients prescribed rivaroxaban following knee or hip arthroplasty were compared with 10,361 patients prescribed a low- molecular weight heparin. Data were analyzed with use of odds ratios (ORs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significantly fewer wound complications in the low-molecular-weight heparin group (2.81% compared with 3.85%; OR = 0.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.58 to 0.90; p = 0.005). There were no significant differences between the low-molecular-weight heparin and rivaroxaban groups in the rates of pulmonary embolism (0.55% compared with 0.36%; OR = 1.52, 95% CI = 0.78 to 2.98), major bleeding (OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.48 to 1.12), or all-cause mortality (OR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.46 to 1.89). There were significantly more symptomatic deep venous thromboses in the low-molecular-weight heparin group (0.91% compared with 0.36%; OR = 2.51, 95% CI = 1.31 to 4.84; p = 0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rivaroxaban group had a higher wound complication rate and a lower deep venous thrombosis rate; there were no differences in symptomatic pulmonary embolism or all-cause mortality. Longer follow-up is needed to assess any potential relationship between wound complications and joint stiffness, latent infection, and limb consequences of deep venous thrombosis.
authors: Trauma & Orthopaedics, James Cook University Hospital, South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Marton Road, Middlesbrough, TS4 3BW, United Kingdom. simonjameson@doctors.org.uk
authors: Simon S
authors: SS
authors: Jameson
authors: Monika
authors: M
authors: Rymaszewska
authors: Anthony C W
authors: AC
authors: Hui
authors: Philip
authors: P
authors: James
authors: Ignacio
authors: I
authors: Serrano-Pedraza
authors: Scott D
authors: SD
authors: Muller
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000401:mortality; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000401:mortality; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009025:Morpholines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D000069552:Rivaroxaban; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; D009025:Morpholines; D013876:Thiophenes; D000069552:Rivaroxaban