Fixation of femoral fractures in multiple-injury patients with combined chest and head injuries.

Abstract

The purpose of the present paper was to study the effects of a femoral shaft fracture and its early stabilization on the morbidity, mortality, and outcome of multiple-injury patients with combined blunt head and chest trauma. The clinical course of patients was analysed using a prospectively gathered data base. Out of 352 multitrauma patients, from September 1992 to June 2000, we identified 28 patients with combined blunt chest and head trauma (abbreviated injury scale >/= 2) and a femoral fracture as the study group. A total of 120 patients with combined chest and head trauma but without femoral fracture formed the control group. Parameters examined included injury severity, injury pattern, haemodynamics at admission, mortality, duration of ventilation, length of stay in intensive care unit, and outcome. There were no significant differences regarding the demographics and injury severity (injury severity score) between the two groups. No significant differences were found in terms of mortality, duration of ventilation\intensive care unit stay and outcome. Injury severity (P < 0.0001), age (P = 0.0153), and haemodynamics at admission (P = 0.0036) were shown to have a significant effect on mortality and outcome. Injury severity (P < 0.0001) and age (P = 0.017) had a significant effect on the duration of ventilation\intensive care unit stay. The present study suggests that a femoral shaft fracture and its early stabilization in a multitrauma patient with combined chest and head injury do not adversely affect mortality and outcome and supports aggressive surgical management for these patients.