[Prevention of thromboembolism in hip traumatology: low molecular weight heparin versus dextran]

A prospective, randomized trial has been undertaken to evaluate the prophylactic effects of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and dextran-70 in 216 patients with hip fracture during a postoperative period of ten days. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was diagnosed using the 125Iodine fibrinogen uptake test, confirmed by ascending venography. 113 patients received LMWH and 103 dextran-70. The frequency of DTV of 14.2% in the LMWH group was significantly lower compared with the 30.1% in the dextran group (p less than 0.003). During the first 10 days postoperative there were no fatal pulmonary embolism (PE). After this period PE occurred in 2 patients (1.8%) in the LMWH group and 1 patient (1.0%) in the dextran group. In each group one patient died from PE. There was no major bleeding in either group. The frequency of local complications was slightly higher in the dextran group (10.7%) compared with the LMWH group (3.5%). The postoperative hemoglobin level was significantly lower in dextran treated patients than in patients receiving LMWH (p less than 0.0001).