A survey of orthopedic surgeons regarding DVT prophylaxis in foot and ankle trauma surgery.

This study hypothesized that thromboembolism in patients with foot and ankle trauma is higher than currently recognized, and that prophylaxis varies among surgeons. A questionnaire sent to members of two orthopedic specialty societies surveyed the use of thromboembolic prophylaxis over 1 year. Most did not use preoperative prophylaxis. Postoperatively, 44% of surgeons used prophylaxis, most commonly sequential compression devices and low molecular weight heparin. This survey suggests that thromboembolic prophylaxis is used by < 50% of surgeons treating foot and ankle trauma. The reported cases of thromboembolism in this study underline the need for a prospective investigation.