Abstract

A short-cut review was carried out to establish whether ambulatory patients immobilized in an above knee plaster of paris cast and administered with a prophylactic dose anticoagulation with low molecular weight heparin; LMWH can benefit from a reduced risk of venous thromboembolism within the next 90 days. One randomised controlled trial was relevant to the question. The author, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results and study weaknesses of this paper are tabulated. The clinical bottom line is that despite limited data the use of LMWH thromboprophylaxis appears to be effective at reducing the incidence of VTE in these patients.