Antithrombotics in Patients With a Femoral Neck Fracture: Evaluating Daily Practice in an Observational Cohort Study

Abstract

Introduction: Geriatric hip fracture patients are characterized by frailty due to multiple comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease, in which the use of antithrombotics is frequent. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of antithrombotics on perioperative care and patient outcomes after hip hemiarthroplasty following current guidelines. Materials and Methods: This observational cohort study included all consecutively admitted patients with a femoral neck fracture requiring hip hemiarthroplasty between January 1st2010, and May 16th 2016, in two level II trauma teaching hospitals. Patients with multiple trauma injuries were excluded. Results: In total, n = 907 patients (68% female (n = 615), median age 84 years) were included of which n = 142 used a vitamin K antagonist (VKA) and n = 213 used antiplatelet (AP) therapy. Both were associated with more packed cell supplementation (.4 ± 1.1 units and.3 ±.8 units vs.2 ±.6 units, P