CURRENT UK OPINION ON THROMBOPROPHYLAXIS IN ORTHOPEDIC-SURGERY - ITS USE IN ROUTINE TOTAL HIP AND KNEE ARTHROPLASTY

We surveyed all surgically qualified members of the British Orthopaedi c Association as to their views on thromboprophylaxis in routine total hip and knee replacement. The response rate was 92%. In total hip rep lacement, 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 thro mboprophylaxis to be a medicolegal necessity while 47% disagreed with this. In total knee replacement, 18-23% of surgeons used no method of prophylaxis at all, 20-26% did not use a mechanical method of prophyla xis, while 54-58% did not use a pharmacological agent; 12% believed lo w-dose anticoagulant thromboprophylaxis to be a medicolegal necessity, while 64% disagreed with this. We conclude that mechanical methods re main a popular method of thromboprophylaxis and pharmacological method s, while commonly used, are not seen as a medicolegal requirement in l ower limb arthroplasty and are used less often in total knee replaceme nt.