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Higher complication rate in patients with hepatitis C after hip fracture surgery
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Patients with noncirrhotic hepatitis C infection had a negative association with hip fracture surgery outcomes, according to data published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma.
Using the National Hospital Discharge Survey, researchers divided patients with hip fractures who were surgically treated into whether they had a diagnosis of hepatitis C (n = 5,377) or did not (n = 4,712,159). Investigators collected demographic variables and categorized adverse events into general medical complications, mechanical complications and surgical complications. They also analyzed data for length of stay and discharge destination.
Results showed patients diagnosed with hepatitis C were younger and had fewer medical comorbidities. However, these patients had a longer length of hospital stay, higher rates of surgery-related complications, general medical complications, mechanical complication and any adverse event vs. patients without hepatitis C, according to the results. Further, patients with hepatitis C were more likely to be discharged home and to a short-term rehabilitation facility.
Noncirrhotic hepatitis C was an independent risk factor for any adverse event, general medical complications, general surgical complications, mechanical complications and nonroutine discharge, according to multivariate regression analysis accounting for age, medical comorbidities, fracture pattern and mode of fixation. Researchers also found increased odds of acute postoperative anemia, acute renal failure, pulmonary embolism and thrombocytopenia among patients with hepatitis C.
“Caution should be taken when treating hip fractures in [hepatitis C virus positive] HCV+ patients, and awareness of the most common medical and surgical complications will facilitate preoperative patient optimization and medical team preparation,” the authors wrote. – by Casey Tingle
Disclosures: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.
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