Timing of Chemical Anticoagulant Administration in Spine Trauma and its Impact on VTE, Bleeding, and Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Study DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.ObjectiveTo evaluate the timing of anticoagulation in acute spinal trauma, specifically assessing the efficacy and safety of early (<48 hours) vs delayed administration for chemical venous thromboembolism prophylaxis.MethodsA systematic search of Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane was conducted through February 2023 for studies comparing early vs delayed anticoagulation in acute spinal trauma patients. Studies reporting deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), major bleeding, and mortality were included. Three reviewers independently screened and extracted data. Risk of bias was assessed using MINORS and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023397717).ResultsFive studies, comprising a total of 13,110 patients, compared anticoagulant administration within 48 hours of trauma vs after 48 hours, reporting DVT and PE as outcomes. Early administration was associated with significantly lower odds of DVT (OR: 0.20 [95% CI: 0.17-0.25], P = .0001, I² = 34%) and PE (OR: 0.46 [95% CI: 0.34-0.62], P = .0001, I² = 0%). Four studies evaluated major bleeding as an outcome and found slightly lower odds with early initiation, though the association was not statistically significant (OR: 0.85 [95% CI: 0.66-1.09], P = .1992). Similarly, 4 studies assessed mortality, with results that were also nonsignificant.ConclusionsThe current evidence indicates that early initiation of chemical anticoagulation within 48 hours of injury in spine trauma patients is associated with favorable outcomes in preventing thromboembolic complications, without significantly increasing the risk of bleeding or mortality.