Exploratory analysis of factors associated with venous thromboembolism in Victorian acute traumatic spinal cord-injured patients 2010-2013.
METHODS
A retrospective medical records audit.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the presence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) events following acute traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) and the association between VTE events and a number of postulated risk factors.


METHODS
The state-wide SCI service in Victoria Australia (Victorian Spinal Cord Service) located at Austin Hospital Melbourne Australia.


METHODS
A retrospective electronic medical records file audit was performed of all patients admitted to VSCS between 2010 and 2013 with an acute traumatic SCI. The outcome measure was the presence of VTE (deep venous thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE) or both). Data were also collected on a variety of established and postulated risk factors for VTE post SCI.


RESULTS
VTE events occurred in 21.2% of acute SCI patients during the hospitalisation of the patient. Statistically significant associations were found between the presence of VTE events and increased weight, male sex, completeness of motor paralysis, length of stay (LOS), associated pelvic or lower limb fracture and delayed admission to the state-wide spinal cord service.


CONCLUSIONS
Further studies are warranted to investigate whether in other SCI centres the risk of VTE in acute SCI patients is similarly associated with the risk factors identified in our study. A study exploring whether giving acute SCI patients of heavier weight a larger dose of chemical thromboprophylaxis is safe and efficacious is also warranted.
Victorian Spinal Cord Service Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.
R
R
Clements
Statistics and Decision Analysis Academic Platform, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
L
L
Churilov
Victorian Spinal Cord Service Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.
A L A
AL
Wahab
Victorian Spinal Cord Service Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.
L C
LC
Ng
D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010243:Paralysis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology