Heparin prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis in patients with a fractured neck of the femur

Abstract

A double-blind controlled clinical trial of the efficacy of the prophylactic subcutaneous administration of calcium heparin in preventing deep vein thrombosis has been conducted in 50 patients with a fractured neck of the femur. Heparin was given every eight hours in a dose of 100 international units per kilogram of body weight and was commenced as soon as possible after the patient's admission to hospital. Treatment was continued for two weeks. In the placebo group, 12 of 25 patients developed a deep venous thrombosis and in five of these patients the thrombosis propagated to the thigh. There were no deep venous thromboses in the heparin-treated group during the two weeks of treatment, but four patients developed a deep venous thrombosis within a week of stopping the heparin. The heparin regime was safe; operative blood loss was not increased, nor was there an increased incidence of wound complications as compared to the placebo group.