American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
View all recommendations from this societyReleased May 15, 2020
Do not transfuse asymptomatic postoperative hip fracture patients with a hemoglobin higher than 8g/dl.
Two high strength studies (Carson et al and Carson et al) support this recommendation. Carson et al (FOCUS trial) is the largest (n=2016) and most robust study to address transfusion threshold in hip fracture patients. FOCUS considered patient-centered and clinically important outcomes in a prospective, randomized, multicenter, controlled trial. This study showed that a restrictive transfusion threshold of hemoglobin 8g/dl in asymptomatic hip fracture patients with cardiovascular disease or risk factors resulted in no significant difference in primary or secondary outcomes at 30 or 60 days including mortality, independent walking ability, residence, other functional outcomes, cardiovascular events, or length of stay. Carson’s 1998 trial was also a high strength study and was the pilot study that led to FOCUS. Symptoms or signs that were considered indicative of anemia appropriate for transfusion were chest pain that was deemed to be cardiac in origin, congestive heart failure, and unexplained tachycardia or hypotension unresponsive to fluid replacement.
These items are provided solely for informational purposes and are not intended as a substitute for consultation with a medical professional. Patients with any specific questions about the items on this list or their individual situation should consult their physician.
How The List Was Created
(1–5) The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) routinely develops evidence-based clinical practice guidelines as valuable tools to advance the physician-patient communications process and enhance the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions. AAOS physician volunteer work groups develop evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to serve as an educational tool based on an assessment of the current scientific and clinical information and accepted approaches to treatment. The most recent approved clinical practice guidelines have been published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. AAOS staff, led by the medical director, conducted a review of the approved clinical practice guidelines previously developed by the work groups and selected a variety of topics frequently used in orthopaedic surgical practice. After input from the orthopaedic specialty society leaders and approval from the AAOS Presidential Leadership and Board of Directors, the final five topics were selected for this campaign. The AAOS disclosure and conflict of interest policy can be found at www.aaos.org.
(6-10) The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) routinely develops evidence-based clinical practice guidelines as valuable tools to advance the physician-patient communications process and enhance the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions. AAOS physician volunteer workgroups develop evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to serve as an educational tool based on an assessment of the current scientific and clinical information and accepted approaches to treatment. AAOS staff methodologists conducted a review of the approved clinical practice guidelines previously developed by the workgroups and selected a variety of topics frequently used in orthopaedic surgical practice. After input and approval from the AAOS Committee on Evidence-Based Quality and Value, followed by the approval from the AAOS, Council on Research and Quality and AAOS Board of Directors, the final five topics were selected for this campaign. The AAOS disclosure and conflict of interest policy can be found at www.aaos.org/quality.
Sources
Carson JL, Terrin ML, Noveck H et al. Liberal or restrictive transfusion in high-risk patients after hip surgery. N Engl J Med 2011;365(26):2453-2462.
Carson JL, Terrin ML, Barton FB et al. A pilot randomized trial comparing symptomatic vs. hemoglobin-level-driven red blood cell transfusions following hip fracture. Transfusion (Paris) 1998;38(6):522-529.
