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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Good news for joint replacement patients: a large clinical trial found that aspirin alone is just as effective as rivaroxaban followed by aspirin in preventing dangerous blood clots after total hip or knee replacement. Bleeding rates were also slightly lower with aspirin only. The simpler, cheaper regimen could be a game-changer for low-risk patients.
A major multicenter, double-blind trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that taking aspirin alone after total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is noninferior to a regimen of rivaroxaban followed by aspirin for preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE). The study enrolled 5,429 patients undergoing total knee or hip replacement, randomizing them to either 81 mg of aspirin daily or 10 mg of rivaroxaban daily for the first 5 days post-surgery, with both groups then continuing aspirin for the remainder of the prophylaxis period.
The results were reassuring on both efficacy and safety fronts. VTE rates were nearly identical between groups, and the aspirin-only arm actually saw fewer bleeding events — making the simpler regimen an attractive option, especially for patients without elevated clot risk.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: For the millions of patients undergoing hip and knee replacements each year, a single, familiar, inexpensive drug like aspirin could replace a more complex and costly two-drug regimen — simplifying recovery and reducing burden on both patients and clinicians.
