Value of lymphocyte counts as a prognostic index of survival following femoral neck fractures.
In a retrospective study of patients with hip fractures, the preoperative lymphocyte counts of 62 patients who had died before discharge were compared with those of 64 patients who had survived for at least 6 months. It was found that the lymphocyte count was below the normal range (1.5-4.0 x 10(9)/l) in 82 per cent of those patients who died but only 36 per cent of those who survived. This difference is highly significant (P less than 0.001). It is suggested that the total lymphocyte count is valuable as an easily estimated prognostic index to identify the subgroup of patients who are at increased risk of dying from this injury.
Conlan
D P
DP
Middlesbrough General Hospital.
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D005265:Femoral Neck Fractures / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis
D012709:Serum Albumin