Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Any study on elective spinal surgery that dealt with DVT, PE and thromboprophylaxis was included.
Specific interventions included in the review
The method of prophylaxis was not reported in all of the studies. The methods reported were: compression stockings, sequential compression stockings, pneumatic compression stockings, thigh-high antithromboembolic compression stockings, graduated compression stockings, and low-dose coumarin.
Participants included in the review
Patients undergoing elective spinal surgery.
Outcomes assessed in the review
Thromboembolic (TE) complication rates associated with spinal surgery were assessed. These were defined as the deep venous thrombosis (DVT) rate and the pulmonary embolism (PE) rate. The method of surveillance was not reported in all studies, but included radionuclide phlebography, ascending phlebography, and duplex and doppler ultrasonography.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The author does not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many of the reviewers performed the selection.