Risk factors for the effect of anticoagulant and antiplatelet agents on perioperative blood loss following proximal femoral fractures

Association of sex and aspirin use with postoperative bleeding in patients with lower extremity long bone fractures

Objective

The perioperative management of patients on antiplatelet drugs is a rising challenge in orthopedic trauma because antiplatelet drugs are frequently encountered and carry an increased risk of hemorrhagic consequences. The study objective was to examine the effect of aspirin on bleeding outcomes for patients with lower extremity fractures.

Methods

This retrospective study included patients requiring surgical fixation of traumatic hip, femur, and tibia fractures from January 1, 2018, to March 1, 2020. Patients were excluded if they had a significant head injury, were on chronic anticoagulant therapy, or they did not receive venous thromboembolism chemoprophylaxis. Comparisons between aspirin users (patients on aspirin therapy preinjury) and non-aspirin users were examined using χ2 tests, Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel tests, and multivariate logistic regression. The primary outcome was an overt, actionable bleed (eg, blood transfusion for surgical site hemorrhage) within 24 hours postoperative.

Results

There were 864 patients with lower extremity long bone fractures and 24% were aspirin users. The incidence of postoperative bleeding was 8.8% and significantly differed for patients taking aspirin versus not (13.6% vs 7.3%, p=0.01). However, biological sex at birth (M/F) was a significant effect modifier (interaction p=0.04). Among women, there were significantly more postoperative bleeds for aspirin users (17.8% aspirin vs 7.4% no aspirin, adjusted OR (AOR): 2.48 (1.28-4.81), p=0.01). Among men, there were similar postoperative bleeding events by aspirin use (5.6% aspirin vs 7.2% no aspirin, AOR: 0.50 (0.14-1.82), p=0.30). Postoperative hemoglobin values <8 g/dL were more frequent among female aspirin users (21.5% aspirin vs 12.5% no aspirin, p=0.01), but this association was not observed in men (p=0.43).

Conclusion

Women taking aspirin who suffer lower extremity fractures have greater than twofold greater odds of a postoperative bleeding event. These findings suggest adequate perioperative planning to ensure blood availability, and increased awareness to monitor closely for hemorrhage in the 24-hour postoperative window for women taking aspirin preinjury.

Level of evidence

IV.

Thromboprophylaxis and Bleeding Complications in Orthopedic and Trauma Patients: A Systematic Review

This systematic review was conducted to investigate the effects of currently used chemoprophylactic modalities to assess concerns regarding their usage. Preventive benefits of thromboprophylaxis were weighed against potential complications in orthopedic and trauma patients. The Ovid MEDLINE® database was used to identify relevant studies. The authors independently screened the initial study articles by title and abstract, eliminating articles not dealing with venous thromboembolism (VTE) chemoprophylaxis in orthopedic or trauma populations. The remaining articles were assessed for eligibility through full-text analysis. The analyzed studies within this review suggested that Factor X_a inhibitors and direct oral anticoagulants hold promise as safe and potentially more effective thromboprophylactic entities when compared to low molecular weight heparin in trauma and orthopedic patients. Thromboprophylaxis had little to no effect on major bleeding incidence, although we could not definitively conclude there was no effect on overall bleeding. Early thromboprophylaxis, especially when identifiable risk factors are present, can improve VTE prevention without changing major bleeding rates. Additionally, we could not conclude whether extended prophylaxis affects VTE incidence, although it seemed to have no effect on major bleeding. Finally, we determined that thromboprophylaxis in the lower extremity trauma population is questionable without the presence of underlying risk factors.

The hidden blood loss in proximal femur fractures is sizeable and significant

BACKGROUND

Patients sustaining hip fractures experience blood loss as a direct result the fracture independent of surgery. The objective of this study was to quantify the expected non-surgical blood loss for proximal femur fractures using hemoglobin values.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review of patients at a level 1 trauma center sustaining proximal femur fractures between October 2015 and January 2018 was performed. Patients were ≥30 years of age, had sustained intertrochanteric, subtrochanteric, or femoral neck fractures and had hemoglobin values documented at admission and after 12 h but before surgery. Patients with concomitant fractures, other hemorrhagic injuries, or blood transfusions before their second hemoglobin result were excluded. A multivariate linear regression model was constructed to evaluate the predictive ability of age, sex, BMI, number of comorbidities, fracture type, anticoagulation/antiplatelet therapy, admission hemoglobin, timing of surgical intervention and changes in electrolyte levels on subsequent hemoglobin values. Hemoglobin changes were compared between intertrochanteric, subtrochanteric, and femoral neck fractures and anticoagulant therapy types with Welch's tests.

RESULTS

119 patients were included. The mean age was 80.9 ± 10.81 years. Nearly 53% of subjects were using anticoagulation therapy. The mean drop in hemoglobin was 1.4 ± 1.03 g/dL. The multivariate linear regression model had statistically significant predictive ability (R = 0.91, p < 0.001). Independent predictors of hemoglobin decrease were number of comorbid conditions (p = 0.02), admission hemoglobin reading (p < 0.001), fracture type (p = 0.02), and time from admission to surgery (p = 0.03). Intertrochanteric fractures demonstrated the largest hemoglobin drops. Anticoagulation therapy had no effect on subsequent hemoglobin.

CONCLUSION

Proximal femur fractures cause a significant amount of blood loss prior to surgical intervention. Patients at particular risk include those with comorbidities, intertrochanteric fractures, low admission hemoglobin values, and increased time to surgery. The identification of demographic, fracture type, and treatment characteristics may help surgeons identify patients at the greatest risk for blood loss, and provide more effective perioperative care.

Is hip fracture surgery safe for patients on antiplatelet drugs and is it necessary to delay surgery? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Hip fractures are common and account for a large proportion of orthopedic surgical admissions in elderly patients. However, determining the timing for surgery has been controversial for patients who develop hip fractures while on antiplatelet treatment.

Methods

Computerized databases for studies published from the inception date to January 2020, including the Cochrane Library, PubMed (Medline), EMBASE, Web of Science^TM, ClinicalTrials, ClinicalKey, and Google Scholar, were searched using the keywords “Hip AND Fracture”, “Antiplatelet”, “Antithrombocyte”, “Platelet aggregation inhibitors”, “Aspirin”, “Plavix”, and “Clopidogrel”.

Results

In total, 2328 initial articles were identified. Twenty-four studies with 5423 participants were ultimately included in our analysis. Early surgery was associated with an increased transfusion rate in the antiplatelet group compared to the non-antiplatelet group (OR = 1.21; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.44; p = 0.03). Early surgery for hip fracture patients on antiplatelet therapy was associated with a greater decrease in hemoglobin compared to delayed surgery (WMD = 0.75; 95% CI, 0.50 to 1.00; p < 0.001). However, early surgery appeared to decrease the length of hospitalization (WMD = − 6.05; 95% CI, − 7.06 to − 5.04; p < 0.001) and mortality (OR = 0.43; 95% CI, 0.23 to 0.79; p = 0.006).

Conclusion

It is unnecessary to delay surgery to restore platelet function when patients with hip fractures receive antiplatelet therapy. Furthermore, early surgery can significantly reduce mortality and hospital stay, which is conducive to patient recovery. Future randomized trials should determine whether the results are sustained over time.

Impact of oral anticoagulation on proximal femur fractures treated within 24 h - A retrospective chart review

BACKGROUND

About one third of all patients with proximal femur fractures take oral anticoagulation like aspirin (ASS), direct platelet aggregation inhibitors like Clopidogrel and Ticagrelor (PAI), vitamin-K-antagonists like Warfarin (VKA) and direct oral anticoagulants like Rivaroxaban, Dabigatran and Apixaban (DOAC). The management and timing of fracture stabilization of these patients is a rising challenge in orthopedic trauma. Our objective was to determine the effect of oral anticoagulation on patients with proximal femur fractures, which received a proximal femur nail antirotation (PFNA) within 24 h after trauma.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective chart review of 327 patients (mean age 80 ± 13 years; 223 women and 104 men) with sub- or intertrochanteric fractures between January 2013 and December 2017 was performed. All patients underwent surgery in the first 24 h after admission. Solely patients without or with only one type of oral anticoagulation were included. There were 74 patients with ASS, 30 with PAI, 52 with DOAC and 25 with VKA medication. All patients taking VKA received high dose Vitamin K or coagulation factors to normalize INR prior to surgery. Primary outcome measures were transfusion rate and pre- and postoperative hemoglobin (Hb) difference. Secondary outcome measures were mortality and complications like infection, hematoma and acute cardiovascular events.

RESULTS

Patients undergoing treatment with DOAC had a 3.4-fold increased risk for intraoperative blood transfusion. The risk for blood transfusion for patients taking ASS, PAI or VKA did no differ from the control group. Patients without an intraoperative blood transfusion on oral anticoagulation showed no increase in pre- and postoperative Hb-difference compared with controls. Anticoagulation showed no significant effect on complication rates and mortality in patients operated within the first 24 h.

CONCLUSION

Early surgical care of proximal femur fractures is safe even in patients with anticoagulant medication. All patients should be preoperatively prepared for possibly intraoperative transfusion, especially patients on DOAC.

The European guideline on management of major bleeding and coagulopathy following trauma: fifth edition

BACKGROUND

Severe traumatic injury continues to present challenges to healthcare systems around the world, and post-traumatic bleeding remains a leading cause of potentially preventable death among injured patients. Now in its fifth edition, this document aims to provide guidance on the management of major bleeding and coagulopathy following traumatic injury and encourages adaptation of the guiding principles described here to individual institutional circumstances and resources.

METHODS

The pan-European, multidisciplinary Task Force for Advanced Bleeding Care in Trauma was founded in 2004, and the current author group included representatives of six relevant European professional societies. The group applied a structured, evidence-based consensus approach to address scientific queries that served as the basis for each recommendation and supporting rationale. Expert opinion and current clinical practice were also considered, particularly in areas in which randomised clinical trials have not or cannot be performed. Existing recommendations were re-examined and revised based on scientific evidence that has emerged since the previous edition and observed shifts in clinical practice. New recommendations were formulated to reflect current clinical concerns and areas in which new research data have been generated.

RESULTS

Advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology of post-traumatic coagulopathy have supported improved management strategies, including evidence that early, individualised goal-directed treatment improves the outcome of severely injured patients. The overall organisation of the current guideline has been designed to reflect the clinical decision-making process along the patient pathway in an approximate temporal sequence. Recommendations are grouped behind the rationale for key decision points, which are patient- or problem-oriented rather than related to specific treatment modalities. While these recommendations provide guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of major bleeding and coagulopathy, emerging evidence supports the author group's belief that the greatest outcome improvement can be achieved through education and the establishment of and adherence to local clinical management algorithms.

CONCLUSIONS

A multidisciplinary approach and adherence to evidence-based guidance are key to improving patient outcomes. If incorporated into local practice, these clinical practice guidelines have the potential to ensure a uniform standard of care across Europe and beyond and better outcomes for the severely bleeding trauma patient.

Impact of Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Patients With Hip Fractures

OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact of direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) intake compared with Coumadin (COU) in patients suffering hip fractures (HFs).

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort analysis.

SETTING

Level 1 Trauma Center.

INTERVENTION

Timing of surgical hip fixation.

PATIENTS

Three-hundred twenty patients 65 years of age or older with isolated HF were enrolled into the study: 207 (64.7%) without any antithrombotic therapy (no-ATT), 59 (18.4%) on COU, and 54 (16.9%) on DOACs.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Time to surgery, blood loss, mortality, hospital length of stay, red blood cell transfusion, use of reversal agents, and Charlson Comorbidity Index.

RESULTS

Patients on COU and DOACs had a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index compared with the no-ATT group (P < 0.0001). Despite the fact that significantly more patients received reversal agents in the COU group compared with DOAC medication (P < 0.0001), percentage of transfused patients were similar (54.2% vs. 53.7%). Time to surgery was significantly shorter in the no-ATT group when compared with DOAC patients (12-29.5 hours, respectively). No difference in postoperative hemorrhage, intensive care unit length of stay, and mortality was observed between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

DOAC medication in HF patients caused long elapse time until surgical repair. We found no evidence of higher bleeding rates in HF patients on DOACs compared with COUs. Earlier HF fixation might be indicated in DOAC patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Fractures of the femur and blood transfusions

BACKGROUND

Blood loss estimation after trauma (i.e. physical injury) and early identification of potential sources of bleeding are important for planning of investigation and management of trauma. Long bone fractures have been reported to be associated with substantial volumes of blood loss requiring blood transfusion. The aim of this study was to assess rates and amounts of blood transfusion in the setting of isolated extra capsular femur fractures and to determine variables associated with the need for transfusion within the first 48 h of admission.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted of patients in The Alfred Trauma Registry with isolated extra capsular femur fractures over a 7-year period. We compared patients with a femoral shaft fracture (FSF) to patients with either distal femur or proximal femur fractures (i.e. extremity fracture). We collected data potentially associated with blood transfusion within 48 h as well as operation details and patient outcomes.

RESULTS

There were 293 patients included, of which 121 had FSF and 172 extremity fracture. 105 (36%) patients received a blood transfusion during their admission. Admission haemoglobin (AOR 0.92; 95%CI 0.89-0.94, p < 0.01) was the only independently associated variable with blood transfusion within the first 48 h of hospital admission.

CONCLUSION

Volume of blood transfused to patients with extra-capsular femoral fractures was low and usually in the post-operative period. FSF, compared to femoral extremity fractures, were not more likely to receive blood transfusion within the first 48 h of admission, and did not receive a higher volume of blood overall. In the setting of major trauma with haemorrhagic shock, alternate sources of bleeding should be sought.