Prospective registry study of 7,959 Charnley total hip replacements (1962–1973) at Wrightington Hospital examining the incidence of fatal and non-fatal pulmonary embolism and the effectiveness of multiple prophylactic regimens — including phenindione, IV heparin, dextran, and hydroxychloroquine — compared to no prophylaxis.
Any pharmacologic prophylaxis roughly halves the fatal PE rate after hip arthroplasty compared to none — the agent matters less than using one.
The timing data are a practical reminder: when counseling patients or planning discharge anticoagulation duration, recognize that three-quarters of embolic events strike in weeks 2–3, not the immediate perioperative period.
Prospective registry study of 7,959 Charnley total hip replacements (1962–1973) at Wrightington Hospital examining the incidence of fatal and non-fatal pulmonary embolism and the effectiveness of multiple prophylactic regimens — including phenindione, IV heparin, dextran, and hydroxychloroquine — compared to no prophylaxis.
Any pharmacologic prophylaxis roughly halves the fatal PE rate after hip arthroplasty compared to none — the agent matters less than using one.
The timing data are a practical reminder: when counseling patients or planning discharge anticoagulation duration, recognize that three-quarters of embolic events strike in weeks 2–3, not the immediate perioperative period.