HIP Fracture Oral thromboPROphylaxis (Hip PRO Pilot)
Status:
Not yet recruiting
Trial end date:
2026-03-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
As our Canadian population ages, hip fractures in these older adults are becoming very
common. The best treatment for the majority of these injuries is urgent treatment with
surgery. However, the hip fracture itself, the surgery required, and the immobility following
these injuries are all risk factors for developing blood clots in the legs (deep vein
thrombosis or DVT) and blood clots in the lungs (pulmonary embolism or PE). These
complications are a common cause of death in patients with hip fractures and often result in
prolonged medical treatment and hospital stays.
Patients with hip fractures who require surgery are traditionally given injectable blood
thinners to help prevent blood clots; however, these medications are costly, may not be
tolerated well, and can be difficult to take, as prescribed. Oral blood thinning medications
are being used more commonly, but it is unknown which of these medications is the most
effective in preventing blood clots in patients after a hip fracture.
Thrombelastography (TEG) technology uses a small sample of blood to evaluate a person's
clotting ability. Our research has used TEG technology to evaluate blood clotting risk after
hip fracture surgery and the investigators have found that platelets may play an important
role in abnormal blood clotting after a hip fracture. The investigators have also shown that
acetylsalicylic acid (ASA or Aspirin) may help reduce the abnormal platelet hyperactivity
associated with blood clotting. This medication warrants investigation for blood clot
prevention after hip fracture.
The investigators propose to directly compare different oral medication regimens after hip
fracture surgery, in order to determine which is safest and most effective in preventing
blood clots. Our multi-disciplinary research team includes physicians, surgeons, and
scientists with experience evaluating different medications for blood clot prevention. Our
results will help determine the best medical treatment for preventing DVT and PE, which will
benefit patients with hip fractures worldwide.