Peri-operative Outcomes and Predictors of Mortality in COVID-19 Positive Patients with Hip Fractures: A Multicentre Study in the UK

Aim

This UK based multi-centre study reports clinical characteristics, early outcomes and predictors of mortality in 34 consecutive COVID-19-positive hip fractures so that the lessons learnt could be utilised in other parts of World who are at a different phase of the pandemic.

Methods

This study analysed patient admitted with hip fractures with COVID positive swabs, between March and May’2020 in three large hospitals covering a population of nearly two million. Data was collected on demographic profile, peri-operative variables, post-operative complications and mortality. The specific aim was to identify any variables, which could predict high 30-day mortality.

Results

Overall, 12% of hip fractures were COVID positive with the mortality rate of 41.2%. The higher age (p = 0.036) and male gender (p = 0.025) was significantly associated with mortality and most of the deaths were between American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) grade 3 and 4 patients. The patients having intramedullary (IM) nailing were more likely to die (p = 0.02). There was no difference in laboratory parameters but there was significant difference in findings on chest radiographs (p < 0.001), post-operative oxygen requirements (p = 0.006) and early respiratory complications (p = 0.006).

Conclusion

This study suggests that the mortality following surgery for a hip fracture in COVID-positive patients is strikingly high and is associated with higher age and male gender. Higher mortality has been observed for extracapsular fracture operated with intramedullary nailing. In the immediate post-operative period, rapid deterioration of chest imaging, higher oxygen requirement and early pulmonary complications can serve as warning signs and predicting factors for higher mortality.