A Prospective Cohort Study of Symptomatic Venous Thromboembolic Events in Foot and Ankle Trauma: The Need for Stratification in Thromboprophylaxis?

The incidence of venous thromboembolic (VTE) events (deep vein thrombophlebitis [DVT] or pulmonary embolism [PE]) in foot and ankle trauma has been low, and the risk/benefit ratio associated with chemoprophylaxis is controversial. We compared the 90-day incidence of VTE events in 3 cohorts: group 1, tendo-Achillis (TA) ruptures managed with full weightbearing in a walker boot; group 2, ankle fractures immobilized non-weightbearing in a below-the-knee cast; and group 3, ankle fractures managed surgically, followed by non-weightbearing in a below-the-knee cast. Data were extracted from 2 prospectively collected trust databases for acute TA ruptures and ankle fractures. VTE risk was assessed using a U.K. national assessment tool. Chemoprophylaxis was prescribed for high-risk patients. The 90-day incidence of symptomatic VTE events was drawn from a trust-wide radiology database. In group 1 (n = 291), the incidence of VTE events was 4.8% (11 [3.8%] DVT, 3 [1.0%] PE) at a mean of 16.1 ± 6.8 days. In group 2 (n = 227), the incidence of VTE events was 2.2% (5 [2.2%] DVT) at a mean of 33.4 ± 11.3 days. In group 3 (n = 199), the incidence of VTE events was 3.0% (5 [2.5%] DVT, 1 [0.5%] PE) at a mean of 37.2 ± 14.2 days. Patients with symptomatic VTE events presented significantly earlier after acute TA rupture compared with after ankle fracture (p = .002). We found the overall incidence of VTE events in foot and ankle trauma was low, with a relatively greater incidence of symptomatic VTE events, which occurred earlier, in acute TA ruptures compared with ankle fractures.