Clinical orthopaedics and related research
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Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. · Jan 2000
Comparative StudyOccult hypoxia after femoral neck fracture and elective hip surgery.
The incidence of hypoxia after femoral neck and total hip arthroplasty was investigated. In addition, the incidence of preoperative and postoperative delirium was assessed. Oxygen saturation and mental status were tested before and after surgery in patients undergoing surgery for a femoral neck fracture or total hip arthroplasty. ⋯ Although the scores for the patients with femoral neck fractures were lower, delirium developed in only three patients with total hip replacements and six patients with femoral neck fracture. Hypoxia after hip surgery, particularly after femoral neck fracture, is common. The incidence of delirium was much lower than reported previously, and it is suggested that supplemental oxygen, when indicated and monitored by pulse oximetry, was the cause for the reduction in delirium.