Information for Medical Professionals

Surgeons should be wary of prophylaxis for shoulder arthroplasty thromboembolism

Surgeons should be wary of the use of aggressive prophylaxis techniques to tackle the risks of thromboembolic events following shoulder arthroplasty.

A new study led by orthopaedic expert Asheesh Bedi has shown that the risk of deep vein thrombosis following such surgery is low and brings into question the use of potentially-hazardous preventative measures.

Speaking at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Bedi was reported by Ortho Supersite as saying: "I think that [the study] warrants some concern about aggressive prophylaxis in this population and that certainly comes with some risks."

"A modest compromise, although somewhat anecdotal, may be the use of perioperative aspirin as well as mechanical prophylaxis," he concluded.

Earlier this year, research led by orthopaedic expert Stacy Johnson showed that multiple ultrasound scans for the detection of lower-limb deep vein thrombosis may be unnecessary.

Her team claimed that withholding anti-coagulation treatment following a negative scan comes with a small 0.57 per cent risk of a patient developing thromboembolism within three-months of surgery.

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