title: Centenarians versus patients within the most frequent age range for hip fractures: transfusion practice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Descriptive retrospective review to compare transfusion among centenarians operated for a hip fracture with a control group within the "typical" age range for that surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fractured centenarians admitted between 2001 and 2006 were compared with a randomly selected control group aged 75-83 years, with the same pathology. Main variables recorded: demographic data; pre- and post-operative status; haemoglobin levels and blood use. A comparative statistical analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups were similar: each had 17 patients and a majority of females had a pertrochanteric hip fracture. Although there was a trend towards higher comorbidity rates and transfusion indexes among centenarians, a significant difference could only be found in post-operative and trigger haemoglobin levels, and in the incidence of post-operative complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite intuitive beliefs, centenarians had results similar to those of the younger population: only a higher complication rate could be proved. Larger samples and prospective studies might be needed to confirm the trends noted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Autonoma University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. pelavski@yahoo.es
authors.forename: Andrés Diego
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Pelavski Atlas
authors.forename: María J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Colomina
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Miguel
authors.forename: Jaume
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roigé
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005265:Femoral Neck Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies