Descriptive Epidemiology of Venous Thromboembolism in Pediatric Orthopedic Patients: A National, Multicenter Study

Consensus regarding which children within orthopedics would benefit from venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis is lacking. Our objective was to explore the incidence and epidemiology of VTE within pediatric orthopedics through a multicenter review across the United States.

Encompassing 13 pediatric centers nationwide, VTE incidence rates with 95% confidence interval (CIs) were determined for all pediatric nonorthopedic patients (PNOPs) in general (age 0-18 years) and compared with pediatric orthopedic patients (POPs) from both inpatient and outpatient settings between 2014 and 2017. Demographics, risk factors, presence of prophylaxis, treatment, and outcomes for POP VTEs were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Of 10,040,937 total unique patients, the overall 4-year VTE incidence for PNOPs was 2.1 per 10,000 patients (CI 2.01-2.19). Of 141,545 POPs, the VTE incidence was 8.0 per 10,000 patients (CI 6.61-9.63). The weighted median age for POP VTEs was higher than that for PNOP VTEs (11.5 vs. 8.0 years, p = 0.001). Of the 113 POP VTEs, 97 eligible patients (median age 13.3 years, 56% male) with complete data were further analyzed: 85% (82/97) underwent orthopedic surgery for trauma, infection, or an elective procedure. Orthopedic procedures (49%), bacteremia (46%), central venous catheters (38%), and trauma (28%) were the most common risk factors associated with VTE development, mostly occurring during the initial hospitalization (65%). Thirty-four percent (33/97) of VTE cases had received prophylaxis, predominantly pharmacological (26/33, 79%), administered postoperatively. Ninety-seven percent (94/97) of POP VTEs were treated with anticoagulation, most frequently low-molecular-weight heparin (79%). Twenty-two percent of POP VTEs experienced complications, 2 (2%) of which were deaths, with one having received postoperative VTE prophylaxis.

Although relatively rare, the true incidence of pediatric orthopedic-related VTE may be greater than that of nonpediatric orthopedic VTE, with child mortality occurring in a small minority of cases. In children diagnosed with VTE, one third had received VTE prophylaxis. Identifying at-risk children undergoing orthopedic surgery and establishing best practice safety protocols for VTE prevention are critical to prevent associated morbidity and mortality.

Level III-Retrospective comparative study. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.