Thromboembolic prophylaxis in hip fracture

The effect of either heparin-dihydergot or heparin-acenocoumarin on the incidence of deep-vein thrombosis in the legs was studied in 181 women undergoing Ender nailing for intertrochanteric fracture of the femur. All the patients were screened with the 125-I-fibrinogen uptake test, confirmed by a bilateral ascending venogram. Deep-vein thrombosis developed in 40 per cent of the heparin-dihydergot group and in 61 per cent of the heparin-acenocoumarin group (p less than 0.015).