• Total venous thromboembolic events (VTE) and all cause mortality during the treatment period. Total VTE is defined as the composite incidence of proximal and distal deep venous thrombosis (DVT), symptomatic DVT and pulmonary embolism (PE).
  

• Efficacy: Major VTE (proximal DVT and PE) and VTE related mortality proximal DVT total DVT symptomatic DVT PE death Safety: Bleeds blood loss + transfusion adverse events (AE) discontinuation due to AE laboratory physical exam.
  

Inclusion criteria (selected):

• Patients (18 years or older) scheduled to undergo a primary, unilateral, elect ive total knee replacement
• Written Informed Consent

Exclusion criteria (selected):

• Patients with an excessive risk of bleeding, for example because of history o f bleeding diathesis major surgery or trauma within the last 3 months history of haemorrhagic stroke or any of the following intracranial pathologies: bleedin g, neoplasm, AV malformation or aneurysm clinically relevant bleeding or gastri c / duodenal ulcer within the last 6 months treatment with anticoagulants withi n 7 days prior to joint replacement surgery or anticipated need during the study treatment period thrombocytopenia.
• Active malignant disease or current cytostatic treatment
• Known severe renal insufficiency
• Liver disease expected to have any potential impact on survival, or elevated A ST or ALT > 2x upper limit of normal
• Recent unstable cardiovascular disease or history of myocardial infarction wit hin the last 3 months
• Pre-menopausal women who are pregnant or nursing, or are of child-bearing pote ntial and are not practising or do not plan to continue practising acceptable me thods of birth control
• Allergy to radio opaque contrast media or iodine, heparins (incl. heparin indu ced thrombocytopenia) or dabigatran
• Contraindications to enoxaparin
• Participation in a clinical trial during the last 30 days