title: Correlation analysis between plasma D-dimer levels and orthopedic trauma severity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The correlation between the plasma D-dimer level and deep vein thrombosis has not been conclusive in various studies. The aim of this research was to study the relationship between plasma D-dimer levels and the severity of orthopedic trauma by retrospective examination of orthopedic trauma cases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinically acute trauma and non-acute trauma patients were selected and their plasma D-dimer levels were measured. Plasma D-dimer levels in patients of these two groups were compared. The relationship between the plasma D-dimer level and the severity of the trauma was also studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 548 cases in the acute trauma group and 501 cases in the non-acute trauma group. The levels of plasma D-dimer were significantly higher in the acute trauma group than in the non-acute trauma group (P < 0.01). In the acute trauma group, the correlation between the D-dimer level and the number of fractures was a positive linear correlation (r = 0.9532).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated plasma D-dimer is common in trauma patients. The D-dimer level and the number of fractures in the trauma patients are closely correlated. D-dimer is not only an indicator for the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolus, but also an indicator of the severity of trauma in acute trauma patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing 100035, China.
authors.forename: Li-Dan
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hong-Bo
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yu-Neng
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hai-Mei
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Ya-Bo
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Man-Yi
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000097:blood; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000097:blood; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D