Prevalence and economic burden of venous thromboembolism after total hip arthroplasty or total knee arthroplasty.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common complication following total hip arthroplasty or total knee arthroplasty and can lead to morbidity and mortality, as well as considerable healthcare costs. However, the incidence of VTE can be greatly minimized with effective thromboprophylaxis administered for the appropriate period of time. While guidelines exist to assist clinicians in determining what type of thromboprophylaxis should be prescribed and for how long, those guidelines are frequently not followed. Prevention of VTE would improve patient outcomes and result in substantial savings to payers and providers.