The practice pattern of anticoagulation prophylaxis for patients undergoing total hip replacement in a major orthopaedic centre; a retrospective review

In a major centre for orthopaedic surgery, we retrospectively analysed 1,469 patients who underwent elective hip replacement since 2010. All patients but 2 received anticoagulation postoperatively and rivaroxaban was the preferred choice for anticoagulation.

The incidence of all adverse events in those who received rivaroxaban was 1.7%. Only 0.3% had a minor upper gastrointestinal bleed and 1.3% developed a minor wound bleeding or haematoma. The occurrence of symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) was 0.2% of all patients.

In this analysis, the incidence of adverse events was lower than the previously 4 published national figures.