Blood loss and blood transfusion in relation to type of hip fracture

Abstract

Introduction.–Hip fracture is themost severe complicationof osteoporosis, treatment includesemergencyhospitalizationandsurgery. During postoperative a common complication is anemia. Method.– Retrospective study. Patients admitted with hip fracture to an orthogeriatric unit in a 5 months period. Preoperative and postoperative Hemoglobin (Hb) were studied as well as blood transfusion. Blood transfusion is indicated only if there is severe anemia or when the patient is hemodynamically unstable. Results.– 108 patients were included, with an average age 87,26±7,07 years (range, 76–100). 86,6% were female. Type of hip fracture: Subtrochanteric (6,66%); intertrochanteric (51,1%) and intracapsular (42,2%). The mean Hb on admission was 12,34±1,44 gr/dl. and the mean postoperative Hb (Hb. after 24 hr) was 9,65±1,35 gr/dl. Postoperative drop in hemoglobin in relation to type of hip fracture: pertrochanteric (2,3±1,14); intracapsular (2,6±0,94) and subtrochanteric (3,36±1,53). There were difference between subtrochanteric and the other two types of hip fractures. 66,6% of the patients required blood transfusion. 82 blood unitswere transfused. 34bloodunitswere administered topatients with Hb<8 gr/dl. Percentage of patients transfused in relation to type of hip fracture: Subtrochanteric (100%); intertrochanteric (74%) and intracapsular (52,63%). Number of units transfused per patient in relation to type of hip fracture: Subtrochanteric (2,2); intertrochanteric (1,7) and intracapsular (1,5). Conclusions.– Subtrochanteric fracture reduced hemoglobin more than the other two types of hip fractures. Subtrochanteric fracture was the fracture that required more transfusions during postoperative.