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Blood transfusion practices in Orthopaedic and Trauma Department in a tertiary health institution in Nigeria: a two year retrospective review

Aim: The aim of this study is to review blood and blood products use in the Orthopaedics and Trauma department of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife. 

Subjects and methods: Records of patients seen at the Orthopaedic and Trauma Unit of the OAUTHC, Ile-Ife, between July 2004 and June 2006, were retrospectively studied. Clinical and laboratory parameters extracted from their case files included age, gender, diagnosis, blood group, indication for transfusion and number of units received, and complications, if any. 

Results: A total of 85 patients were managed during the study period. Their ages ranged between 1.5 and 94 years with a median of 30 years. There were 52 males and 33 females with a M: F ratio of 1.6:1. All the patients had allogeneic whole or packed red cells. No patient received autologous blood, and none received platelet concentrate, fresh frozen plasma or any other blood products. Forty-eight of the eighty-five patients (56.5%) were blood group O Rhesus D positive. Major indications for blood transfusion included traumatic fractures (39/85 or 45.9%), osteomyelitis (13/85 or 15.3%), gangrene (11/85 or 12.9%), malunion and non-union (13/85 or 15.3%). The highest numbers of transfusion were seen in multiply injured patients, extremity gangrene, gunshot injuries and sarcomas. Mild febrile and allergic blood transfusion reactions were encountered in 6 (7.1%) of our patients. 

Conclusion: Fractures and its complications were the most common indications for blood transfusion in orthopaedics and trauma patients in our hospital. Keywords : Blood transfusion, Indications, Orthopaedics, Trauma. Nigerian Journal of Orthopaedics and Trauma Vol. 6 (2) 2007: pp. 55-57