Centenarians versus patients within the most frequent age range for hip fractures: transfusion practice.
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.
Pelavski Atlas
Andrés Diego
AD
Department of Anesthesia, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Autonoma University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. pelavski@yahoo.es
Colomina
María J
MJ
De Miguel
Marcos
M
Roigé
Jaume
J
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