BILATERAL VS UNILATERAL FEMUR SHAFT FRACTURES IN POLYTRAUMA – THE HIGHER RATE OF COMPLICATIONS IS MAINLY CAUSED BY ACCOMPANYING INJURIES

Abstract

Background: Polytrauma patients with bilateral femur shaft fractures are known to have a higher rate of complications when compared with those who have sustained unilateral fractures. The current study tests the hypothesis that the high incidence of posttraumatic complications in patients who have no severe head or chest injury is caused by accompanying injuries rather than by the additional femur fracture.

Methods: Prospective cohort study. Inclusion criteria: Injury severity score > 16 points; No AIS score value of the head or chest > 3 points. Two study groups: a unilateral (group USF) (n=146) and a bilateral femur shaft fracture (group BSF) (n=29). A further differentiation was made according to the patient’s status. All patients underwent early (< 24 hours after injury) fixation of their extremity fractures. Endpoints monitored were: Pneumonia, Acute lung injury (ALI), Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), Sepsis. Statistics: Pearson chi-square test for binary indicators of injury severity, regression analyses regarding clinical complications.

Results: Patients with bilateral femur fractures exhibited a longer ICU stay (p< 0.01), a higher incidence of pneumonia (p< 0.02) and SIRS (p=0.04) than those with unilateral fractures. Following corrective analyses for injury severity, no differences in blood transfusion rates, length of ICU stay, or complications was observed. Patients in borderline condition spend significantly more time in the ICU in comparison to those in stable condition. For analyses predicting presence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome, only the variable indicating receipt of a blood transfusion upon admission to the hospital emerged as a significant predictor. Bilateral fracture patients who were in uncertain condition preoperatively, developed significantly more complications postoperatively(p=0.02).

Conclusions: Polytrauma patients with bilateral femur shaft fractures have a similar clinical course as those with unilateral fractures when no significant head or chest injury is present.

An increased incidence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome was associated with three variables: presence of borderline condition, hemothorax and requirement of blood transfusion. This may have important treatment implications, including the management of major fractures.