[Persistence of hypercoagulability state after hip and knee arthroplasty: what is the optimal duration of antithrombotic guidelines in this surgery?]

Among 79 patients candidates to hip (53) and knee (26) replacement an evaluation was made of the influence of a two-week program with LMWH on the evolution of hypercoagulability markers: D-D, TAT, and F1 + 2. Measurements were performed by ELISA preoperatively and on days 1, 7 and about 45 postoperatively; in the latter, two extraction intervals were considered:or = 45 days and45 days. With both surgical modalities, D-D and F1 + 2 peaked at 7th day postoperatively, whereas TAT peaked on day 1. Among D-D and F1 + 2 values quantitated on day 7th and the extraction intervalor = 45 days, no significant differences were obtained (Z2.64). The hypercoagulative chronicity exhibited by D-D and F1 + 2 during the first month and a half after this surgery, might require in some cases a more prolonged thromboprophylaxis.