Risk factors for deep vein thrombosis in patients with pelvic or lower-extremity fractures in the emergency intensive care unit

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients with pelvic or lower-extremity fractures in the emergency intensive care unit (EICU), explore the independent risk factors for DVT, and investigate the predictive value of the Autar scale for DVT in these patients.

Methods: The clinical data of patients with single fractures of the pelvis, femur, or tibia in the EICU from August 2016 to August 2019 were retrospectively examined. The incidence of DVT was statistically analyzed. Logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors for DVT in these patients. The receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of the Autar scale for the risk of DVT.

Results: A total of 817 patients were enrolled in this study; of these, 142 (17.38%) had DVT. Significant differences were found in the incidence of DVT among the pelvic fractures, femoral fractures, and tibial fractures (P < 0.001). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed multiple injuries (OR = 2.210, 95% CI: 1.166-4.187, P = 0.015), fracture site (compared with tibia fracture group, femur fracture group OR = 4.839, 95% CI: 2.688-8.711, P < 0.001; pelvic fracture group OR = 2.210, 95% CI: 1.225-3.988, P = 0.008), and Autar score (OR = 1.198, 95% CI: 1.016-1.353, P = 0.004) were independent risk factors for DVT in patients with pelvic or lower-extremity fractures in the EICU. The area under the ROC curve (AUROC) of the Autar score for predicting DVT was 0.606. When the Autar score was set as the cutoff value of 15.5, the sensitivity and specificity for predicting DVT in patients with pelvic or lower-extremity fractures were 45.1% and 70.7%, respectively.

Discussion: Fracture is a high-risk factor for DVT. Patients with a femoral fracture or multiple injuries have a higher risk of DVT. In the case of no contraindications, DVT prevention measures should be taken for patients with pelvic or lower-extremity fractures. Autar scale has a certain predictive value for the occurrence of DVT in patients with pelvic or lower-extremity fractures, but it is not ideal.

Keywords: Autar deep vein thrombosis scale; deep vein thrombosis; lower-extremity fracture; pelvic fractures; trauma.