Modeling Orthopedic Injury and Its Impact: Biological Measures of Hypercoagulability and their Applications

Post-injury hypercoagulability is commonly seen in injured patients and is associated with an elevated risk of thromboembolic complications, morbidity, and mortality. Orthopedic injuries are common elements of polytrauma and are associated with both bleeding and thrombosis depending on fracture patterns. Animal models of orthopedic injury allow for standardization, control of heterogeneity and confounding, investigation of biochemical mechanisms, and testing of novel therapeutics. This chapter discusses the known impact of orthopedic injuries on coagulation, reviews existing animal models of orthopedic injury that assess markers of coagulation and fibrinolysis, and summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of different species used in orthopedic injury animal models.