Prophylaxis against fat and bone-marrow embolism during total hip arthroplasty reduces the incidence of postoperative deep-vein thrombosis: a controlled, randomized clinical trial

130 patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis with a standard cementing technique for the femoral stem were randomized to undergo the operation with or without the use of a bone vacuum. The incidence of intraoperative fat and bone-marrow embolism were measured at up to 45 days. The group without vacuuming had significantly more severe and prolonged embolic events than the group with vacuuming, and deep-vein thrombosis was detected in significantly more patients in the group without vacuuming.