Treatment of Proximal Femoral Fractures in Patients with COVID-19

Abstract

Background. In relation with the COVID-19 new coronavirus infection epidemic that began in Russia in the spring of 2020, a completely new group of patients appeared: patients whose coronavirus infection was combined with the proximal femur fractures. In the course of practical work, hospital doctors had to gain experience in treating these complex patients, solve new organizational and medical tasks. The aim of the study was to evaluate the results of treatment of patients with the proximal femur fractures in combination with coronavirus infection in a covid hospital at the hospital stage, 30-day and 6-month terms. Materials and Methods. The retrospective study is based on the collection and generalization of data from 64 patients with the proximal femur fractures in combination with confirmed coronavirus infection who underwent inpatient treatment from 16.03.2020 to 31.05.2021. 38 (59.4%) patients had a femoral neck fracture, 26 (40.6%) had a fracture of the trochanter region. Forty (62.5%) patients underwent surgical treatment (hip replacement was performed in 23 cases, osteosynthesis was performed in 17 cases), 24 (37.5%) patients did not undergo surgery. Results. With conservative treatment, the hospital mortality rate was 41.6%, the 30-day mortality rate was 72.7%, and the 6 month mortality rate was 95.5%. During surgical treatment, the hospital mortality rate was 5.0% (2 patients died). Early postoperative complications were detected in 5 (12.5%) patients. Thirty-one (77.5%) patients walked or stood with a walker on their own at the time of discharge; 7 (17.5%) patients could not be activated. The thirty-day mortality rate in the group of patients who underwent surgical treatment was 8.6%, and the 6-month mortality rate was 32.1%. Conclusion. Surgical treatment of patients with the proximal femur fractures in combination with coronavirus infection is much more difficult than the treatment of patients without infectious pathology. However, despite number of unresolved problems, surgical treatment of such patients is possible with good results and should be actively applied.