Background:

Little is known regarding appropriate timing for chemical venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis initiation in operative traumatic spinal injuries. We hypothesized that the incidence of post-operative bleeding leading to neurological decline or re-operation would not increase in patients who received early VTE prophylaxis (≤2 days post-surgery) as compared to those who received late VTE prophylaxis (≥ 3 days post-surgery).

Methods:

This is a retrospective cohort study. Spine trauma patients who underwent spinal surgery, defined as anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, posterior cervical spinal fusion, anterior or posterior thoracic/lumbar spinal fusion, or vertebral percutaneous fixation from July 2015 to July 2020 were included. Demographics, pre-injury anti-thrombotics, operative characteristics, pre- and post-operative VTE prophylaxis, and post-operative complications, including spinal bleeding, and VTE were collected. Univariate analysis was performed, comparing baseline characteristics, VTE prophylaxis timing, and complications between the early and late groups.

Results:

Two-hundred-eighty-two patients were included; 189 were in the early group (1.7 ± 0.5 days), and 93 were in the late (4.4 ± 2.1 days) group. The late group received enoxaparin more often than patients in the early group (41.9 % vs. 19 %, p < 0.001). Baseline characteristics, hospital course, and surgical management were similar between the groups. The rate of post-operative complications, including hematoma and VTE was similar between the groups. None of the patients in the early group had post-operative bleeding.

Conclusion:

In this retrospective cohort study, VTE prophylaxis timing was not associated with clinically significant post-operative spinal bleeding and VTE in trauma patients.