Pharmacological prophylaxis for deep vein thrombosis in acute spinal cord injury: an Indian perspective

Prospective randomized single blind study.

To find out the incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in Indian acute spinal cord injury (ASCI) subjects with and without pharmacological prophylaxis.

Indian Spinal Injuries Centre.

Seventy four ASCI subjects were randomly divided into two groups with 37 subjects each: group I received no antithrombotic prophylaxis, and only physical measures like compression stockings were employed for prophylaxis, whereas group II received antithrombotic prophylaxis with low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) along with physical measures as in group I. DVT was monitored through daily clinical assessment and doppler venous ultrasonography at 2 weeks.

Out of 37 subjects in each group, eight (21.6%) developed DVT in group I and two (5.4%) in group II. The difference was significant (P-value=0.041). Six out of eight subjects who developed DVT in group I were asymptomatic. There was no incidence of significant DVT-related complications including pulmonary embolism in any of the subjects.

There is a significant incidence of DVT in Indian subjects with ASCI but definitely less than what has been reported in western literature. Pharmacological prophylaxis (LMWH in this study) significantly (P=0.041) decreases the incidence of DVT in subjects with ASCI. As there was no difference in the incidence of symptomatic DVT or related complications, a larger study would be required to conclude definitely on the role of pharmacological prophylaxis in the Indian population.