Prevention of Deep Venous Thromboembolism in Foot and Ankle Surgery.

Although rare, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism remain a concern for foot and ankle surgeons. Most prophylactic measures against DVT formation are synthesized from orthopedic hip and knee data, and therefore the routine use of these recommendations may place patients at risk for complications associated with unnecessary prophylaxis. In this article we review and present the most current literature specific to venous thromboembolism (VTE) in foot and ankle surgery. It is clear that, given our current literature, a case-by-case approach for VTE prophylaxis should be used following foot and ankle surgery.