No effectiveness of anticoagulants for thromboprophylaxis after non-major knee arthroscopy: a systemic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Arthroscopic knee surgery is the most commonly performed orthopedic procedure worldwide and whether thromboprophylaxis should be undertaken after knee arthroscopy is still controversial. To evaluate the efficacy of thromboprophylaxis for deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) after knee arthroscopic surgery. A meta-analysis was conducted using data from eight randomized trials (4148 patients) to compare thromboprophylaxis with placebo or no prophylactic treatment in patients undergoing knee arthroscopy. The benefits and harms of thromboprophylaxis were evaluated, including the incidence of asymptomatic DVT, symptomatic VTE, pulmonary embolism and anti-coagulation related adverse events. Thromboprophylaxis significantly decreased the incidence of DVT (95% CI 0.07–0.64, P = 0.006) and symptomatic VTE in patients undergoing knee arthroscopy (95% CI 0.23–0.76, P = 0.004), but not significantly decreased the incidence of pulmonary embolism (n.s.). Regarding to non-major knee arthroscopy surgery (simple surgical procedures without ligament reconstruction), no significant difference of the incidence of DVT or symptomatic VTE was noted between thromboprophylactic group and control group (n.s.). Thromboprophylactic treatment showed higher incidence rate of anti-coagulation related adverse events compared with the control group (95% CI 1.12–1.90, P = 0.005). There was no significant difference of the incidence of clinically relevant major bleeding between the two groups (n.s.). This meta-analysis indicates no effectiveness of thromboprophylaxis for preventing DVT or symptomatic VTE in patients undergoing non-major knee arthroscopy. Regarding to patient undergoing knee ligament construction, the thromboprophylactic strategy should mainly take into account the patient’s risk factors.