Do we need to cross-match blood in closed fractures of the shaft of the femur?

• Published in: Injury Vol. 20; no. 1; pp. 27 - 28
• Main Authors: Cope, A.R., McGlone, R., Sloan, J.P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 1989; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Grouping and Crossmatching; Blood Transfusion - statistics & numerical data; Emergencies; Female; Femoral Fractures - therapy; Fractures, Closed - therapy; Humans; Injuries of the limb. Injuries of the spine; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; Human; Femur; Transfusion; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Fracture; Cross matching test; Trauma; Diaphysis; Blood
• ISSN: 0020-1383; 1879-0267
• DOI: 10.1016/0020-1383(89)90039-9

A total of 50 patients with isolated closed fractures of the shaft of the femur are presented. Eleven per cent of the blood specimens were merely grouped and saved on arrival, and the remaining 39 (78 per cent) were cross-matched between 2 and 6 units. Overall, 138 units of blood were cross-matched and only 16 units were used (11.5 per cent), none of them actually in the accident and emergency department. We can find no record of blood being given for resuscitation. The use of blood appeared to depend on the occurrence and timing of operation. We suggest that local policy for cross-matching blood for such patients takes into account the orthopaedic surgical lan, but that the routine instruction to cross-match blood on arrival be abandoned.