Outcomes of Patients with Preoperative Thrombocytosis After Hip Fracture Surgery

Introduction: Low platelet counts have clinically relevant effects on patient outcomes after hip fracture surgery; however, the relationship between abnormally high platelet counts and postoperative outcomes in this population is unknown. Methods: The ACS-NSQIP database was queried for patients who underwent hip fracture surgery between 2015 and 2019. Outcomes were compared between patients with normal platelet counts (150,000 to 450,000/μL) and thrombocytosis (>450,000/μL). Results: Eighty-six thousand three hundred eleven hip fracture patients were identified, of which 1067 (1.2%) had preoperative thrombocytosis. Compared with patients with normal platelet counts, patients with preoperative thrombocytosis had increased rates of 30-day mortality (6.4% vs 4.5%, P = 0.004; OR 1.15 [95% CI 0.88 to 1.50], P = 0.322) as well as increased rates and odds of readmission (11.4% vs 7.8%, P < 0.001; OR 1.35 [95% CI 1.10 to 1.65], P = 0.004) and venous thromboembolic events (3.2% vs 1.7%, P < 0.001; OR 1.88 [95% CI 1.31 to 2.71], P < 0.001). Conclusions: Hip fracture patients with preoperative thrombocytosis had increased rates of early mortality as well as increased odds of venous thromboembolic events and readmission. A patient with thrombocytosis may benefit from close postoperative surveillance and careful follow-up. Future prospective studies are needed to verify causation and investigate how to mitigate adverse outcomes in hip fracture patients with preoperative thrombocytosis.