Is medicamentous thrombosis prophylaxis necessary in conservative outpatient therapy with lower limb injuries?

Selected patients with minor lower limb injuries and low risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT), who required cast immobilizing and did not receive medic al thrombosis prophylaxis were included in a prospective study. The decisio n to give not medical thrombosis prophylaxis depended on an concept of indi vidualised prophylaxis for patients at risk for thromboembolism. From March 1994 to March 1996 in 178 outpatients (118 men, 60 women, mean age 25,8 [1 6-39] years) a clinical examination and a colour-coded duplex sonography we re performed after removel of the cast for detection of DVT of the lower li mb. A phlebographic was per formed when thrombosis was suspected. Two patie nts developed a one bundle thrombosis of the calf. Clinical appearance of l ung embolism was not observed. These results suggest, that low risk patient s with minor injuries of the lower limb and plaster cast immobilisation do not need a medical thrombosis prophylaxis.