Source: Pain  |  Posted 8 years ago

Extended prophylaxis with fondaparinux for 3 weeks after hip fracture surgery appears to reduce the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and is well tolerated, according to the findings of a multi-centre, randomised trial.

Previous studies have shown that treatment with the new selective factor Xa inhibitor fondaparinux, administered for up to 11 days in patients undergoing surgery for hip fracture, reduces the rate of VTE. However, the benefit of thromboprophylaxis with fondaparinux for up to 4 weeks after surgery has not been evaluated in these high-risk patients.

Bengt I. Eriksson, MD, PhD, with the Orthopaedics Department, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/