Fondaparinux sodium vs. low-molecular-weight heparin in preventing deep vein thrombosis in patients undergoing hip replacement surgery

According to a recent study, subcutaneous fondaparinux sodium (FS) injection demonstrated enhanced efficacy compared to low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) in the prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) following total hip arthroplasty (THA). Additionally, it is associated with a reduced risk of thrombosis and an improvement in patient symptoms. This study’s results were published in the Journal of Musculoskeletal & Neuronal Interactions

60 patients who had undergone THA were included in this study. These patients were then randomly assigned to either the LMWH group (n = 30) or the FS group (n = 30). Following this, the DVT-related parameters were compared between the two groups.

There were no statistically significant variations in baseline data, such as gender, age, and body mass index (BMI), between the two groups. Patients in the FS group exhibited a notably shorter postoperative weight-bearing time than those in the LMWH group. (2.433±1.006 vs 3.00±1.114; P = 0.043; Cohen’s d = 4.068). On the 7th day after surgery, the FS group patients showed much lower DVT (3.3% vs. 13.3%, P = 0.01), Wells scores (7.133 ± 2.013 vs. 8.4 ± 1.192, P = 0.004, Cohen’s d = 5.833), subcutaneous ecchymosis (3.3% vs. 20%, P = 0.000), difference in swelling circumference (50.23 ± 1.278 vs. 51.13 ± 0.9371, P = 0.003, Cohen’s d = 6.117) and Visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores (3.633 ± 1.189 vs. 4.267 ± 1.081, P = 0.035, Cohen’s d = 3.153)  than the LMWH group patients.

Thus, it can be concluded that the use of subcutaneous FS injection has shown to be more effective than LMWH in preventing DVT following THA. FS subcutaneous injection is also associated with a decreased likelihood of thrombosis and an improvement in patient symptoms.