Venous Thromboembolism and Lower Limb Immobilisation

You have suffered an injury to your leg and the clinicians have advised that the best treatment is to treat you in an immobilisation device. This may be:

• A plaster cast
• A rigid splint
• A rigid boot, or similar

What are the associated risks?

We know that a small number of patients in these devices may suffer from a blood clot in their veins that causes symptoms when they have their injured leg immobilised (2 in 100 patients immobilised)¹.

We have used a risk assessment tool to decide if you need medicine to reduce the risk of this occurring and you may have been prescribed either a tablet or an injection to reduce this risk.

Some people are at higher risk than others of developing a blood clot, this is taken into account by the risk assessment tool.

If you have not been prescribed any medicine it is likely that your risk is very small. If you notice any of the following symptoms you should return to the Emergency Department or Urgent Care Centre immediately:

• New pain in your leg (different to the injury pain)
• Swelling to the leg (if you have a removable cast / splint you will be able to tell this)
• Warm skin around the painful area
• Swollen veins of your leg
• Chest pain or feeling short of breath

References

1. Bertoletti L, Righin M, Bounameeaux H, et al, Acute venous thromboembolism after non-major orthopaedic surgery or post-traumatic limb immobilisation. Thromb Haemost 2011;105:739-41

• Horner D, Goodacre S, Pandoor A et al. Thromboprophylaxis in lower limb immonbilisation after injury Emerg Med J 2020;37:36-41 https://emj.bmj.com/content/emermed/37/1/36.full.pdf

•  DVT(dep vein thrombosis), NHS leaflet, 2019 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/deep-vein-thrombosis-dvt/

Comments, concerns, compliments or complaints

Patient Experience Team (PET)

We are continually trying to improve the services we provide. We want to know what we’re doing well or if there’s anything which we can improve, that’s why the Patient Experience Team (PET) is here to help. Our Patient Experience Team is here to try to resolve your concerns as quickly as possible. The office is based on the ground floor at the University Hospital of North Tees if you wish to discuss concerns in person. If you would like to contact or request a copy of our PET leaflet, please contact:

Telephone: 01642 624719

Freephone: 0800 092 0084

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Email: [email protected]

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Out of hours if you wish to speak to a senior member of Trust staff, please contact the hospital switchboard who will bleep the appropriate person.

Telephone: 01642 617617

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Telephone: 01642 383551

Email: [email protected]

Leaflet feedback

This leaflet has been produced in partnership with patients and carers. All patient leaflets are regularly reviewed, and any suggestions you have as to how it may be improved are extremely valuable. Please write to the Clinical Governance team, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospital of North Tees, TS19 8PE or:

Email: [email protected]