ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Proximal femoral fractures are common in Germany with approximately 100,000 affected patients per year. The mortality could be considerably reduced by timely treatment (<24â¯h). The objectives of this work were to demonstrate the prevalence of anticoagulation and associated complications in osteosynthetically treated proximal femoral fractures, the impact of anticoagulation on the preoperative period and potential optimization of perioperative anticoagulation management. MATERIAL AND METHODS: External quality control data for North Rhine-Westphalia for the years 2015-2016 were evaluated. Only cases in which a femoral fracture near the hip joint was treated osteosynthetically were analyzed. A total of 24,786 cases of femoral fractures near the hip joint were included in the study. RESULTS: In the largest subgroup with acetylsalicylic acid (ASS) medication (nâ¯= 4005) 17% underwent delayed surgery, in the second largest group with vitamin K antagonists (VKA, nâ¯= 2157) 44.6% underwent delayed surgery and in the third largest group with direct oral anticoagulant (DOACs) medication (nâ¯= 994) 18.2% underwent delayed surgery. CONCLUSION: The biggest potential of shortening the preoperative period can be found in the ASS and vitamin K antagonist subgroups (17% and 44.6% delayed surgery, respectively). The antagonization of the effect of VKA can be achieved within a short time by the administration of prothrombin complex (PPSB). Even when taking DOACs, the current common procedure of delayed surgical treatment must be critically questioned. A coagulation management should be established in the SOP. In addition to medical interventions (administration of antidotes), structures must be created that enable prompt care.
