Is There a Role for Anti-factor Xa Activity Assay in Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis Management Among Orthopaedic Trauma Patients? Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

J Orthop Trauma. 2023 Sep 1;37(9):e368-e376. doi: 10.1097/BOT.0000000000002611.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the effect of anti-factor Xa assay dosing of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) on rates of venous thromboembolism (VTE), deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), bleeding, and mortality among orthopaedic trauma patients.

Data sources: PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Ovid, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), clinicaltrials.gov , and Scopus were systematically searched from inception of the database to 2021.

Study selection: Prospective, retrospective, and randomized controlled trial studies were included if they compared rates of VTE, DVT, PE, bleeding, and/or mortality between orthopaedic trauma patients receiving anti-factor Xa-based LMWH dosing and those receiving standard dosing.

Data extraction: Two independent reviewers screened titles and abstracts for eligibility. Study characteristics including study design, inclusion criteria, and intervention were extracted.

Data synthesis: Meta-analysis was performed using pooled proportion of events (effect size) with 95% confidence intervals. A random-effects model was used. Heterogeneity was quantified by Higgins I 2 . Heterogeneity and variability between subgroups indicated differences in the pooled estimate represented by a P -value.

Results: Six hundred eighty-five studies were identified, and 10 studies including 2870 patients were included. In total, 30.3% and 69.7% received an adjusted and nonadjusted dose of LMWH, respectively. The rate of VTE and DVT were significantly lower in the anti-factor Xa-adjusted cohort, whereas there was no statistically significant difference in rates of PE, bleeding, or mortality between the cohorts.

Conclusions: This systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrates that anti-factor Xa activity assay dosing of LMWH among orthopaedic trauma patients leads to a reduction in overall DVT rates, although not PE rates, without an increased risk of bleeding events.

Level of evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Anticoagulants / therapeutic use
  • Hemorrhage / chemically induced
  • Hemorrhage / drug therapy
  • Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Orthopedics*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Pulmonary Embolism* / prevention & control
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Venous Thromboembolism* / diagnosis
  • Venous Thromboembolism* / etiology
  • Venous Thromboembolism* / prevention & control
  • Venous Thrombosis* / etiology
  • Venous Thrombosis* / prevention & control

Substances

  • Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight
  • Anticoagulants