title: Decision making on timing of surgery for hip fracture patients on clopidogrel.
abstract: Patients taking clopidogrel who sustain a fractured neck of femur pose a challenge to orthopaedic surgeons. The aim of this study was to determine whether delay to theatre for these patients affects drop in haemoglobin levels, need for blood transfusion, length of hospital stay and 30-day mortality. A retrospective review of all neck of femur patients admitted at two centres in the North East of England over 3 years revealed 85 patients. Patients were divided into two groups depending on whether they were taking clopidogrel alone (C) or with aspirin (CA). Haemoglobin drop was significantly different in the CA group that was operated on early (CA1) versus the group for which surgery was delayed by over 48 hours (CA2): 3.3g/dl and 1.9g/dl respectively (p=0.01). The mean inpatient stay in group C was 35.9 days while in group CA it was 19.9 days (p=0.002). The mean length of stay in group CA2 (26.7 days) was significantly longer than for CA1 patients (14.1 days) (p=0.01). There were no significant differences in mortality or wound complications. Hip fracture patients on clopidogrel can be safely operated on early provided they are medically stable. Bleeding risk should be borne in mind in those patients on dual therapy with aspirin.
authors.affiliation: City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust , UK.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Purushothaman
authors.affiliation: South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust , UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.affiliation: Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust , UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weusten
authors.affiliation: South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust , UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonczek
authors.affiliation: Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust , UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramaskandhan
authors.affiliation: City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust , UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nanu
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D000075202:Contraindications; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013988:Ticlopidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D013988:Ticlopidine
keywords: Aspirin; Clopidogrel; Delay to surgery; Hip fracture
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