The incidence of deep vein thrombosis in elderly Chinese suffering hip fracture is low without prophylaxis: a prospective study using serial duplex ultrasound.

PURPOSE To investigate the incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) among elderly Hong Kong Chinese patients suffering from acute hip fracture and to analyse the risk factors associated with DVT. METHODS A total of 100 consecutive Chinese hip fracture patients with a mean age of 80 years were investigated serially using duplex ultrasound scans preoperatively and at 1 week, 3 to 6 weeks, and 3 months postoperatively. No chemoprophylaxis or prophylaxis against DVT was given. RESULTS 95 patients completed 3 duplex scans during hospitalisation; 5 (5.3%) of them were found to have developed DVT over the ilio-femoral venous segment. Of the 90 patients who had no DVT, 73 were reassessed 3 months after operation; one of them was found to have developed calf DVT. Older patients, chairbound or dependent patients, and patients living in institutions carried a higher risk of developing DVT. CONCLUSION This prospective study shows that the incidence of DVT developing after acute hip fracture in Chinese geriatric patients was low. We therefore do not recommend routine chemoprophylaxis for elderly patients with hip fracture.