Association between fracture type and the risk of bleeding in intertrochanteric femur fractures

Abstract

IntroductionThe current study aimed to determine the association between fracture type and pre-operative hemoglobin level decrease in intertrochanteric fractures. Further, the erythrocyte unit required in replacement therapy until discharge according to fracture type was evaluated. Patients and methodsWe retrospectively analyzed 194 patients diagnosed with intertrochanteric femur fracture who received proximal femoral nail implantation. Among them, 122 met the inclusion criteria, and they were divided into group 1 (stable fracture) and group 2 (unstable fracture) according to the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen classification. Data on age, sex, fracture side, surgical waiting time, pre- and post-operative hemoglobin levels, and total erythrocyte units required were assessed. Then, statistical analysis was performed. ResultsThe stable and unstable groups were similar in terms of age, sex, fracture side, and surgical waiting time (p > 0.05). The average erythrocyte units required in replacement therapy were 1.62 (total: 96) in group 2 and 0.91 (total: 57) in group 1. Moreover, group 2 was more likely to require eythrocyte replacement than group 1 (p = 0.001). The average hemoglobin level decreases were 1.70 g/dL in group 1 and 1.95 g/dL in group 2. The pre-operative hemoglobin level decrease had a similar distribution in both groups (p = 0.239). ConclusionsThe pre-operative blood loss volume was similar between unstable and stable intertrochanteric fractures. Moreover, at unstable group, the need for erythrocyte replacement therapy was high in the whole period until discharge.