Platelet aggregation inhibitors, platelet function testing, and blood loss in hip fracture surgery.

Background: The purpose of our prospective study was to analyze how many patients with hip fractures are on treatment with platelet aggregation inhibitors (aspirin and clopidogrel), how many of these patients have impaired platelet function as measured by the PFA-100, and whether there is an association between perioperative blood loss and either intake of platelet inhibitors or platelet function.

Methods: Four hundred sixty-two patients with hip fractures were investigated. Surgery (most commonly dynamic screw fixation and hemiarthroplasty) was performed on day 1.