Preinjury warfarin and geriatric orthopedic trauma patients: a case-matched study.
BACKGROUND
This study examined the hypothesis that patients on warfarin before sustaining orthopedic injuries will have increased morbidity and mortality compared with matched control patients not on warfarin.


METHODS
Records of consecutive trauma patients on warfarin with orthopedic fractures who presented from January 1997 to June 2002 to a Level I trauma center were retrospectively analyzed. Data were evaluated using the chi and Student's t tests and nonparametric tests when appropriate; values of p < 0.05 were considered significant.


RESULTS
A study group of 53 patients was available for review. In comparison with the control group, significant differences were found in time delay from admission to surgery (p = 0.005), hospital length of stay (p = 0.03), total units of blood transfused (p = 0.03), and discharge disposition (p < 0.0003). No difference was found in number of intensive care unit days, complications, or mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
Preinjury warfarin impacts outcomes of geriatric trauma patients sustaining orthopedic injuries.
Kirsch
Matthew J
MJ
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Akron General Medical Center, Akron, Ohio, USA. mattkirsch@yahoo.com
Vrabec
Gregory A
GA
Marley
Robert A
RA
Salvator
Ann E
AE
Muakkassa
Farid F
FF
D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014859:Warfarin / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin