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Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Point-Of-Care Ultrasound Screening for Proximal Lower Extremity Deep Venous Thrombosis
Published on: February 10, 2023
Aspirin and compression devices versus low-molecular-weight heparin and PCD for VTE prophylaxis in orthopedic
Anay R Patel1, Martha K Crist, Jason Nemitz
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Background:
Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) are possible sources of morbidity and mortality in patients with musculoskeletal neoplasms (MSN).
Objective:
To compare the efficacy of aspirin (ASA) and pneumatic compression devices (PCD) to low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) and PCD in patients undergoing orthopedic procedures for MSN of the pelvis or lower extremity.
Methods:
Of 348 patients who met the study criteria, 195 were treated with ASA/PCD and 153 with LMWH/PCD. There were 18 DVT including 8 in ASA/PCD group and 10 in LMWH/PCD group. There were four PEs, all in the LMWH/PCD group.
Results:
We found no significant difference in DVT rate between ASA/PCD and LMWH/PCD when used for prophylaxis against thromboembolic complications. Our analysis shows that procedures of the thigh, soft tissue resections, and malignant disease were more often managed with ASA/PCD while joint arthroplasty, procedures of the hip/pelvis, and metastatic disease were more often managed with LMWH/PCD.
Conclusion:
DVT prophylaxis in orthopedic oncology remains a complex topic in which physicians must balance the risks of thromboembolic disease against the risks of post-operative complications.
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