title: Blood loss and contributing factors in femoral fracture surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Substantial blood losses frequently accompany orthopedic procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively noted peri-operative hemoglobin changes in 93 patients undergoing surgery for femoral fracture with an aim of establishing blood loss and related factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean total blood loss assessed 72 hours after the surgical procedure was 3.31 (SD 1.56) units of whole blood. A multiple regression analysis revealed diathermy use and a simple fracture pattern as significant factors in reducing blood loss (p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Open intramedullary fixation of femur fractures leads to considerable peri-operative blood loss. This is can be reduced by use of diathermy during surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Mulago Hospital, Kamapala, Uganda. kajja133@gmail.com
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kajja
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Bimenya
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eindhoven
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jan Ten Duis
authors.forename: C T S
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Sibinga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery*; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019990:Perioperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014454:Uganda; D055815:Young Adult
references.citation: Vox Sang. 2006 Oct;91(3):270-4
references.pmid: 16958841
references.citation: Transfusion. 2007 Mar;47(3):362-5
references.pmid: 17319811
references.citation: J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2002 Feb;84(2):216-20
references.pmid: 11861727
references.citation: Vox Sang. 2007 Feb;92(2):95-102
references.pmid: 17298570
references.citation: Dermatol Online J. 2007 Oct 13;13(4):17
references.pmid: 18319014
references.citation: Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2006;85(12):1448-52
references.pmid: 17260220
references.citation: Vox Sang. 2006 Jan;90(1):45-52
references.pmid: 16359355
references.citation: Arch Surg. 2004 Sep;139(9):997-1000
references.pmid: 15381620
references.citation: Transfusion. 2006 Sep;46(9):1484-90
references.pmid: 16965573
references.citation: Transfusion. 2006 Dec;46(12):2192-206
references.pmid: 17176334
references.citation: Br J Anaesth. 2001 Sep;87(3):435-40
references.pmid: 11517128
references.citation: J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2005 Mar-Apr;13(2):93-100
references.pmid: 15850366
references.citation: Arch Surg. 2004 Jan;139(1):39-42
references.pmid: 14718273
references.citation: J Trauma. 2003 Jul;55(1):7-13
references.pmid: 12855874
references.citation: J Thromb Haemost. 2005 May;3(5):962-8
references.pmid: 15869592
references.citation: J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2006 Jun;88(6):1223-30
references.pmid: 16757754
references.citation: Thromb Haemost. 2007 Apr;97(4):627-34
references.pmid: 17393026
references.citation: J Orthop Trauma. 1999 Sep-Oct;13(7):494-500
references.pmid: 10513972
references.citation: Br J Anaesth. 1962 Sep;34:653-6
references.pmid: 13946525