Venous Thromboembolism Chemoprophylaxis Within 24 Hours of Surgery for Spinal Cord Injury: Is It Safe and Effective?

Objective Current guidelines recommend initiation of venous thromboembolism (VTE) chemoprophylaxis within 72 hours of spinal cord injury (SCI). This study investigated the safety and efficacy of chemoprophylaxis within 24 hours of surgery for SCI. Methods A retrospective review of 97 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for acute traumatic SCI at a single level 1 trauma center from 2013–2018 was performed. VTE/postoperative bleeding rates during hospitalization, demographics, medical/surgical complications, drain output, length of stay, and disposition were obtained. Chi–square with odds ratios (ORs), 1-way analysis of variance, and logistic regression were performed to establish significant differences between groups. Results Seventy–nine patients were included, 49 received chemoprophylaxis within 24 hours and 20 within 24–72 hours. Cohort characteristics included an average age of 51.8 years, 77.2% male, 62.0% cervical, and 35.4% thoracic SCIs. Using the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS), 39.2% were AIS-A injuries, 19.0% AIS-B, 25.3% AIS-C, and 16.5% AIS-D. Unfractionated heparin was administered in 88.6% of patients and 11.4% received low molecular weight heparin. Chemoprophylaxis within 24 hours of surgery was associated with a lower rate of VTE (6.1% vs. 35.0%; OR, 0.121; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.027–0.535) and deep vein thrombosis (4.1% vs. 30.0%; OR, 0.099; 95% CI, 0.018–0.548) versus 24–72 hours. Pulmonary embolism rates were not significantly different (6.1% vs. 5.0%, p = 1.0). There were no postoperative bleeding complications and no significant difference in drain output between cohorts. Conclusion Early VTE chemoprophylaxis is effective with lower VTE rates when initiated within 24 hours of surgery for SCI and is safe with no observed postoperative bleeding complications.