Venous thromboembolic complications following surgical treatment for degenerative spinal disease

INTRODUCTION: A venous thromboembolism (VTE), i.e., deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE), is a potentially lethal complication to surgical procedures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of symptomatic VTEs in a large consecutive Danish cohort treated surgically for degenerative spinal disease. METHODS: This was a retrospective, consecutive, one-centre cohort study of patients treated surgically for either cervical or lumbar degenerative disease. According to the local treatment protocol, patients with an increased risk of VTE received rivaroxaban as thrombosis prophylaxis. VTE events within six months frorn the surgical procedure were identified via the Danish National Patient Register and confirmed by patient chart review. RESULTS: A total of 6,145 surgical procedures were included - 808 cervical and 5,337 lumbar procedures. Twelve patients (0.2%) were examined on suspicion of symptomatic VTE, ten for DVT and two for PE. VTE was confirmed in eight patients (0.1%), seven DVT and one PE. One patient died within six months, producing a mortality rate of 0.01%. CONCLUSIONS: VTEs are an uncommon but potentially lethal complications in patients who undergo surgery for a degenerative spinal disease. Incidence and mortality wen. low in a consecutive cohort where rivaroxaban was used as thrombosis prophylaxis in patients with an increased preoperative risk of VTE.