Samuel EM, et al. - By conducting a retrospective cohort study of all patients with vertebral fractures in the American College of Surgeons National Trauma Data Bank Research Data Set from years 2011 and 2012, researchers investigated the rate of venous thromboembolism event (VTE) in these patients and risk factors for their occurrence. They identified a relatively low rate of VTE after vertebral fractures. However, predisposing factors for VTE include longer LOS and other defined factors (older age, complete spinal cord injuries, cancer, and obesity) to lesser extents. Protocols to prevent adverse outcomes can be developed and optimized by determining patients at greatest risk.

Methods

• Researchers investigated the factors associated with the occurrence of VTE among all patients with vertebral fractures via multivariate logistic regression while considering patient factors, injury characteristics, and hospital course.

Results

• Researchers identified a total of 190,192 patients with vertebral fractures.
• Findings revealed as overall VTE rate of 2.5%.
• Multivariate analysis revealed longer inpatient length of stay being the most important factor associated with increased VTEs, with an odds ratio (OR) of up to 96.60 (95% CI: 77.67 – 129.13) for length of stay longer than 28 days (compared to 0-3 days).
• Older age (OR of up to 1.65 [95% CI: 1.45 – 1.87] for patients age 70 – 79 years [compared to age 18 – 29 years]), complete spinal cord injuries (OR: 1.49 [95% CI: 1.31 – 1.68]), cancer (OR: 1.37 [95% CI: 1.25 – 1.50]), and obesity (OR: 1.32 [95% CI: 1.18 – 1.48]) were additional risk factors, in order of decreasing odds ratios.
• Increased rates of VTE were also evident in relation to multiple associated non-spinal injuries.