letter to the editor: anticoagulation strategies for the orthopaedic surgeon: reversal and timelines

Article highlights: 1) this article provides a full anticoagulant reference for the practicing orthopaedic surgeon which can be used in any clinical scenario, whether urgent or elective surgical intervention is required 2) a comprehensive list of anticoagulant reversal agents and drugs with short halflives (for bridging) are described with the intention to provide the data needed to safely manage a patient perioperatively during urgent orthopaedic surgical care (i.e. fracture or infection) 3) halflife and method of excretion for all drugs are included with the intention to accurately guide decisions regarding the appropriate timing of scheduling elective orthopaedic surgical care with regards to anticoagulant metabolism and effect 4) the practicing orthopaedic surgeon using this guide should always consider medical comanagement of these complex patients as their medical comorbidities may not be amenable to anticoagulant reversal or perioperative cessation of therapy, even for a short period 5) the data contained in this article stands to serve as a foundation upon which institutionspecific guidelines regarding the perioperative management of orthopedic patients on longterm anticoagulation can be developed