Background: Thromboprophylaxis after injury is a controversial issue. Practices and outcomes vary widely.
Methods: Review of selected trauma literature on venous thromboprophylaxis after injury.
Results: Multiple trauma articles suggest that the efficacy of different methods of thromboprophylaxis is unproven. Most of the practices on this issue are extrapolated from studies which were performed in non-trauma patients and therefore, may not be applicable in the unique trauma population.
Conclusions: In the absence of undisputable evidence, none of the current methods of venous thromboprophylaxis after injury should be considered as standard of care. There is a need to discover new methods of thromboprophylaxis for the Trauma patient.