ABSTRACT
Objectives: Hip fractures in the elderly are common injuries that need timely surgical management. Since the beginning of the pandemic, patients with a proximal femoral fracture (PFF) experienced a delay in time to surgery. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate a possible variation in mortality in patients with PFF when comparing COVID-19 negative versus positive. Methods: This is a multicentric and retrospective study including 3232 patients with PFF who underwent surgical management. The variables taken into account were age, gender, the time elapsed between arrival at the emergency room and intervention, pre-operative American Society of Anesthesiology score, pre-operative cardiovascular and respiratory disease, and 10-day/1-month/6-month mortality. For 2020, we had an additional column, “COVID-19 swab positivity.” Results: COVID-19 infection represents an independent mortality risk factor in patients with PFFs. Despite the delay in time-to-surgery occurring in 2020, no statistically significant variation in terms of mortality was detected. Within our sample, a statistically significant difference was not detected in terms of mortality at 6 months, in patients operated within and beyond 48 h, as well as no difference between those operated within or after 12/24/72 h. The mortality rate among subjects with PFF who tested positive for COVID-19 was statistically significantly higher than in patients with PFF who tested. COVID-19 positivity resulted in an independent factor for mortality after PFF. Conclusion: Despite the most recent literature recommending operating PFF patients as soon as possible, no significant difference in mortality was found among patients operated before or after 48 h from diagnosis. © 2022 Published by Scientific Scholar on behalf of Journal of Musculoskeletal Surgery and Research.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Compare 30-day mortality rate following a proximal femur fracture (PFF) and SARS-CoV-2 infection versus a PFF and no SARS-CoV-2 infection. DESIGN: Retrospective comparative study. SETTING: Three university hospitals in Biscay province (Basque Country, Spain). PATIENTS: 77 patients over 65 years-old with PFF (AO 31-A and 31-B). INTERVENTION: Study conducted between 9 March and 15 April 2020. The COVID-19 group included only patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, confirmed by a positive RT-PCR test. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: 30-Day mortality rate and risk factors for mortality. RESULTS: Of a total 77 patients, 10 were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Mean age was 85 years. Patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection had higher BMI (29.53 kg/m2) compared to patients without infection (24.09 kg/m2) (p = 0.001). No significant differences were found between both groups in terms of the Charlson Comorbidity Index, ASA score, use of oral anticoagulants or presence of cognitive impairment. Seven of the 10 patients in the COVID-19 group developed (viral) pneumonia, as compared to one single case (1/67) of (bacterial) pneumonia in the control group (p < 0.001). Thirty-days mortality was higher (p = 0.03) in COVID-19 patients (40%) than in those in the control group (11.9%). In the multivariate analysis, age ≥ 91 years-old, ASA class IV and BMI > 25 kg/m2 were significant predictors of 30-day mortality. All deaths in the COVID-19 group occurred while the patients were hospitalized. CONCLUSIONS: SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with a PFF was seen to result in higher rates of early mortality, with COVID-19-related pneumonia being the leading direct cause of mortality. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III study.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: Compare 30-day mortality rate following a proximal femur fracture (PFF) and SARS-CoV-2 infection versus a PFF and no SARS-CoV-2 infection. Design: Retrospective comparative study. Setting: Three university hospitals in Biscay province (Basque Country, Spain). Patients: 77 patients over 65 years-old with PFF (AO 31-A and 31-B). Intervention: Study conducted between 9 March and 15 April 2020. The COVID-19 group included only patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, confirmed by a positive RT-PCR test. Main outcome measurements: 30-day mortality rate and risk factors for mortality. Results: Of a total 77 patients, 10 were diagnosed with SARS CoV-2 infection. Mean age was 85 years. Patients with SARS-Cov-2 infection had higher BMI (29.53 kg/m2) compared to patients without infection (24.09 kg/m2) (p = 0.001). No significant differences were found between both groups in terms of the Charlson Comorbidity Index, ASA score, use of oral anticoagulants or presence of cognitive impairment. Seven of the 10 patients in the COVID-19 group developed (viral) pneumonia, as compared to one single case (1/67) of (bacterial) pneumonia in the control group (p < 0.001). Thirty-days mortality was higher (p = 0.03) in COVID-19 patients (40%) than in those in the control group (11.9%). In the multivariate analysis, age ≥91 years-old, ASA class IV and BMI >25 kg/m2 were significant predictors of 30-day mortality. All deaths in the COVID-19 group occurred while the patients were hospitalized. Conclusions: SARS CoV-2 infection in patients with a PFF was seen to result in higher rates of early mortality, with COVID-19-related pneumonia being the leading direct cause of mortality.
Objetivos: Comparar la tasa de mortalidad a 30 días en los pacientes con fractura de fémur proximal (FFP) y coinfección por SARS-CoV-2 frente a FFP sin coinfección. Diseño: Estudio retrospectivo comparativo. Escenario: Tres hospitales universitarios en Vizcaya (País Vasco, España). Pacientes: Setenta y siete pacientes mayores de 65 años con FFP (AO 31-A y 31-B). Intervención: Entre el 9 de marzo y el 15 de abril de 2020. El grupo COVID-19 incluía pacientes con infección confirmada mediante el test PCR-RT. Medidas de resultados principales: Tasa de mortalidad a 30 días y factores de riesgo de mortalidad. Resultados: Diez de los 77 pacientes presentaron coinfección por SARS-CoV-2. La edad media fue de 85 años. Los pacientes infectados presentaban un IMC mayor (29,53 kg/m2) frente a los no infectados (24,09 kg/m2) (p = 0,001). No hubo diferencias significativas en el índice de comorbilidad de Charlson, la puntuación ASA, el uso de anticoagulantes o el deterioro cognitivo. Siete pacientes del grupo COVID-19 (7/10) desarrollaron neumonía (vírica), frente a un solo caso (1/67) de neumonía (bacteriana) en el grupo control (p < 0,001). La mortalidad a 30 días fue mayor (p = 0,03) en los pacientes con COVID-19 (40%) que en el grupo control (11,9%). La edad ≥ 91 años, la clase IV ASA y el IMC > 25 kg/m2 fueron predictores significativos de mortalidad a 30 días. Todas las muertes en el grupo COVID-19 ocurrieron intrahospitalariamente. Conclusiones: La infección por SARS-CoV-2 en pacientes con PFF resultó en tasas más altas de mortalidad temprana, siendo la neumonía por COVID-19 la principal causa directa de mortalidad.Nivel de evidencia: Estudio nivel III.