Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of enoxaparin and warfarin for prevention of deep vein thrombosis after total knee arthroplasty

Of 263 patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty, 122 received adjusted low-dose warfarin and 141 received enoxaparin as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis. Three patients in the warfarin group and 3 in the enoxaparin group developed ultrasound-detectable DVT (P >.05). Although the amount of perioperative blood transfused was equivalent in both groups, the overall hemoglobin drop was greater (P <.005) in the enoxaparin group (2.9 g/dL) as compared with the warfarin group (2.3 g/dL). Five patients (4.6%) in the warfarin group and 16 (11.3%) in the enoxaparin group had bleeding complications (P <.05). Our data support earlier published reports suggesting that reductions, if any, in the incidence of DVT associated with enoxaparin are offset by a significant increase in bleeding complications as compared with adjusted-dose warfarin. We continue to use adjusted-dose warfarin as primary thromboembolic prophylaxis after total knee arthroplasty.