Thromboembolic complications of cast immobilization for injuries of the lower extremities

Six cases of thromboembolic complications in patients being treated with plaster cast immobilization for a variety of injuries to the lower extremity were encountered over a four month period on an Air Force orthopaedic service. These injuries, consisting of three ruptures of the tendo achillis, two fractures of the tibia, and a sub-talar dislocation of the foot, resulted in one death from pulmonary emboli and three other serious complications of pulmonary emboli. The literature on thromboembolic complications following lower extremity injuries (including information of pathogenesis, clinical characteristics and epidemiology of venous thromboembolism and the hazards of lowere extremity cast immobilization in an individual susceptible to his complication) suggests that prophylaxis against thrombosis should be instituted in high risk individuals who must undergo case immobilization for injuries to the lower extremity.