Venous thromboembolism after fibula fracture: a patient's perspective.

Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) is a significant healthcare issue in the United States. This article presents information on the scope of the problem of VTE through a case study demonstrating the physical and psychosocial experiences of a 24-year-old woman with a fibula fracture treated in a short leg cast who developed a deep vein thrombosis that went on to become a pulmonary embolism. The patient experience is evaluated and supported by literature review in terms of risk factors as well as diagnostic, prophylaxis, medical treatment, and nursing implications. Analysis of a patient experience with VTE is valuable to add to the nursing body of knowledge for improvement of evidence-based practice.