Chemoprophylaxis Timing Is Not Associated With Postoperative Bleeding After Spinal Trauma Surgery

Little is known regarding appropriate timing for chemical venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis initiation in operative traumatic spinal injuries. We hypothesized that the incidence of post-operative bleeding leading to neurological decline or re-operation would not increase in patients who received early VTE prophylaxis (≤2 days post-surgery) as compared to those who received late VTE prophylaxis (≥ 3 days post-surgery).

This is a retrospective cohort study. Spine trauma patients who underwent spinal surgery, defined as anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, posterior cervical spinal fusion, anterior or posterior thoracic/lumbar spinal fusion, or vertebral percutaneous fixation from July 2015 to July 2020 were included. Demographics, pre-injury anti-thrombotics, operative characteristics, pre- and post-operative VTE prophylaxis, and post-operative complications, including spinal bleeding, and VTE were collected. Univariate analysis was performed, comparing baseline characteristics, VTE prophylaxis timing, and complications between the early and late groups.

Two-hundred-eighty-two patients were included; 189 were in the early group (1.7 ± 0.5 days), and 93 were in the late (4.4 ± 2.1 days) group. The late group received enoxaparin more often than patients in the early group (41.9 % vs. 19 %, p < 0.001). Baseline characteristics, hospital course, and surgical management were similar between the groups. The rate of post-operative complications, including hematoma and VTE was similar between the groups. None of the patients in the early group had post-operative bleeding.

In this retrospective cohort study, VTE prophylaxis timing was not associated with clinically significant post-operative spinal bleeding and VTE in trauma patients.