Iron supplementation after femoral head replacement for patients with normal iron stores.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of oral iron therapy in the recovery of patients' hemoglobin levels after major surgery.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
Private orthopedic practice confined to one large community hospital.


METHODS
One hundred seventy consecutive elderly patients undergoing hip surgery; 75 failed to meet entry hematologic or medical criteria; 95 were randomized, with 16 withdrawn because of complications.


METHODS
Thirty-seven patients received ferrous sulfate orally four times a day for the duration of their hospitalization. Forty-two patients who received no iron supplement served as the control group.


METHODS
Changes in hemoglobin levels and reticulocyte counts over the 2- to 3-week follow-up period.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference in mean hemoglobin levels between the treatment and control groups (95% confidence interval [CI] for difference of -6.6 to 5.4 g/L). Corrected reticulocyte fractions increased equally in both groups (95% CI for difference of -9 x 10(3) to 2 x 10(-3). The study was designed to detect a difference in mean hemoglobin levels of 8.5 g/L or greater or a difference in mean reticulocyte fraction of 10 x 10(-3) between the two groups with a power of 0.80 at the .05 (two-sided) level of significance.


CONCLUSIONS
The administration of oral iron supplements to elderly, healthy orthopedic patients postoperatively did not hasten the recovery of hemoglobin levels, provided adequate tissue iron stores were present.
Zauber
N P
NP
Department of Medicine, St Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, NJ.
Zauber
A G
AG
Gordon
F J
FJ
Tillis
A C
AC
Leeds
H C
HC
Berman
E
E
Kudryk
A B
AB
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D005260:Female; D005270:Femur Head / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery*; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012156:Reticulocytes
D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D006454:Hemoglobins; C020748:ferrous sulfate; D007501:Iron