Low-dose heparin in proximal femoral fractures. Failure to prevent deep-vein thrombosis.

The effect of heparin, 5000 units every 8 hours, on deep venous thrombosis in patients with proximal femoral fractures was investigated in a controlled, double blind, randomised study. Heparin or placebo was administered as soon as possible after the fracture, and before 6 hours had passed, and was continued for 14 days. The diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis was made using daily I125 fibrinogen scans. A total of 130 patients endured the trial and the results were registered on a sequential diagram. This showed that the 0-hypothesis could not be rejected, and that consequently no difference in the frequency of deep-vein thrombosis was detected.