Thromboembolism in total hip and knee arthroplasty patients receiving low molecular weight heparin prophylaxis

Major orthopedic procedures, such as total hip and knee replacements, carry a higher risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism compared to minor surgeries. Pre-existing patient risk factors like obesity, hyperlipidemia, and a history of deep vein thrombosis further contribute to this risk. This study aims to identify the thrombotic risk factors in Libyan patients who received low-molecular-weight heparin and are undergoing post-orthopedic surgery. A retrospective study included 100 patients who underwent total hip or knee replacement at Al-Khadra Medical Center, Tripoli, Libya, between June 2023 and February 2024. Data collected included demographics, medical history, pre-operative coagulation tests, surgical details, and post-operative outcomes. This study of joint replacement patients (74.0% female, 26.0% male; mean age 65.0 ± 9.0 years for females, and 64.0 ± 13.0 years for males) found that total knee replacement comprised 91.0% of procedures, more common in older patients (98.1% of those ≥ 70.0 years vs. 68.8% < 65 years). Total hip replacement was more frequent in younger patients (31.3%, < 65.0). The prevalence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus increased with age, while hyperlipidemia was exclusive to males. All patients received Nadroparin (0.3 ml or 0.6 ml). Hospital stays of 7-10 days were most common for both doses (65.0%), with no significant difference in the length of stay between doses. The prevalence of total hip and knee replacements varied by age and gender. Thus, low-molecular-weight heparin prophylaxis appeared effective, as no deep vein thrombosis was observed in Libyan patients in this study.