HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Heck, C. A. Articles by Richardson, W. J. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Heck, C. A. Articles by Richardson, W. J.

Venous Thromboembolism in Spine Surgery

Dr. Heck is Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon, Southern Orthopaedic Surgeons LLC, Montgomery, AL. Dr. Brown is Assistant Professor, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC. Dr. Richardson is Professor, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University.

None of the following authors or a member of their immediate families has received anything of value from or owns stock in a commercial company or institution related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article: Dr. Heck, Dr. Brown, and Dr. Richardson.

Reprint requests: Dr. Heck, Southern Orthopaedic Surgeons LLC, 2119 East South Boulevard, Montgomery, AL 36116.

Venous thromboembolism is a life-threatening adverse event in spine patients and presents difficult decisions for the surgeon and patient. Prophylactic protocols have been established to prevent the occurrence of venous thromboembolism and its sequelae, including venous occlusion, edema, postthrombotic syndrome, and death. Despite the known benefits of prophylaxis, some surgeons choose not to use it because of concerns over increased bleeding complications and possible iatrogenic neurologic injury. Although mechanical prophylaxis remains an important element in venous thromboembolism prevention, low-molecular-weight heparin is better than other pharmacologic therapies in decreasing the incidence of major events.