Thromboprophylaxis after hip fractures

Hip fractures are becoming increasingly common in the United States as the elderly population grows. In addition to cardiopulmonary and other medical complications, hip fracture patients are at extremely high risk for the development of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Although well-designed clinical studies analyzing the efficacy and safety of a variety of therapeutic modalities has been performed, an ideal prophylactic agent for VTE after hip fracture surgery has yet to be identified. Given the fragility of most patients with hip fractures, the choice of prophylaxis must be made carefully to balance the efficacy of the agent against the risks of postoperative bleeding. The purpose of this review is to summarize the literature regarding diagnosis and treatment of VTE after hip fractures.