Abstract: Background: As the geriatric population is rising, the incidence of osteoporotic fractures, especially hip fracture also increasing. Elderly patients with lower limb fracture especially osteoporotic hip fracture are at high risk for the development of deep vein thrombosis. Incidence of life threatening complications following DVT are also very common and ranges from 0.1% to 0.8% and may as high as 7% in patients undergoing hip surgery.
Method: In our study total 50 patients with osteoporotic hip fracture who gone for hip surgery were included and all the patients were started with LMWH (Enoxaparin) prophylactically to prevent DVT. Monitoring of all patients was done, in terms of development of sign and symptom of DVT. Diagnostic test Colour Doppler test were performed for making the diagnosis of DVT. Data were collected and analysis of the data was done to established the efficacy of LMWH in prevention of DVT and related complication in the target population.
Results: In our study out of total fifty patients with osteoporotic hip fracture, 28(56%) patients had fracture neck of femur and 22(44%) patients had intertrochanteric fracture femur. In our study two (4%) patients had wound haematoma, one (2%) patient had minor bleeding from wound and two (4%) patients had superficial wound infection which resolved easily without any further intervention. In our study six (12%) patients had DVT, out of that only two (4%) had symptomatic (swelling and leg pain) DVT while remaining four (8%) didn’t had any symptom. No life threatening complication was found in any of our patients.
Conclusion: Our study shows very low incidence of DVT in patients who were receiving prophylactic treatment in the form of LMWH, hence it is evident that LMWH is a cynosure in preventing DVT in geriatric population and likewise.
