Frequency of venous thromboembolism risk factors assessed by the caprini score in patients undergoing elective lumbar spine surgery.

Abstract

Objective: To quantify the frequency of venous thromboembolism risk factors stratified by the Caprini Risk Assessment Model in adults undergoing elective lumbar spine surgery. Study Design: Analytical Cross-sectional. Period: January 2025 to January 2026. Setting: Nishtar Hospital II, Multan. Methods: Three hundred ten consecutive patients scheduled for L1–S1 procedures were enrolled after excluding trauma, active malignancy, infection and preoperative thromboembolism. Demographic, clinical, and operative data was taken using standardized proforma. The 2013 Caprini instrument assigned weighted points for risk stratification into low, moderate, high, and very high categories. Statistical analysis employed descriptive frequencies and chi-square test by using SPSS version 21.0. Results: The mean age of participants was 52.4±11.7 years, with male predominance (54.8%). Multilevel fusion procedures constituted 54.2% of the surgical cohort, with open posterior approaches utilized in 68.4%. Predominant risk factors included planned postoperative immobilization exceeding twenty-four hours (92.3%), hypertension (41.3%), and obesity (38.7%). Zero patients qualified as low risk. High-risk stratification encompassed 58.7%, while very high-risk comprised 32.3%. The aggregate mean Caprini score reached 4.1±1.3. Advanced age, elevated body mass index, multilevel instrumentation, and operative duration surpassing three hours demonstrated statistically significant correlations with heightened risk categories. Conclusion: Elective lumbar instrumentation universally generates substantial thrombotic vulnerability. Mandatory preoperative Caprini screening coupled with risk-adapted prophylaxis protocols and targeted metabolic optimization remains imperative for mitigating postoperative complications and enhancing surgical recovery pathways.