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Review
. 2023 Jul 3;8(7):561-571.
doi: 10.1530/EOR-22-0060.

Review of perioperative outcomes and management of hip fracture patients on direct oral anticoagulants

Pelle V Wall  1 , Brendon C Mitchell  2 , Canhnghi N Ta  2 , William T Kent  2
Affiliations
Review

Review of perioperative outcomes and management of hip fracture patients on direct oral anticoagulants

Pelle V Wall et al. EFORT Open Rev. .

Abstract

Anticoagulation use is common in elderly patients presenting with hip fractures and has been shown to delay time to surgery (TTS). Delays in operative treatment have been associated with worse outcomes in hip fracture patients. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) comprise a steadily increasing proportion of all oral anticoagulation. Currently, no clear guidelines exist for perioperative management of hip fracture patients taking DOACs. DOAC use is associated with increased TTS, with delays frequently greater than 48 h from hospital presentation. Increased mortality has not been widely demonstrated in DOAC patients, despite increased TTS. Timing of surgery was not found to be associated with increased risk of transfusion or bleeding. Early surgery appears to be safe in patients taking DOACs presenting with a hip fracture, but is not currently widely accepted due to factors such as site-specific anesthesiologic protocols that periodically delay surgery. Direct oral anticoagulant use should not routinely delay surgical treatment in hip fracture patients. Surgical strategies to limit blood loss should be considered and include efficient surgical fixation, topical application of hemostatic agents, and the use of intra-operative cell salvage. Anesthesiologic strategies have utility in minimizing risk and a collaborative effort to minimize blood loss should be undertaken by the surgeon and anesthesiologist. Anesthesia team interventions include considerations regarding positioning, regional anesthesia, permissive hypotension, avoidance of hypothermia, judicious administration of blood products, and the use of systemic hemostatic agents.

Keywords: anticoagulation; bleeding; direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC); geriatric; hip fracture; surgical timing; trauma.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research reported.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Coagulation cascade with direct oral anticoagulant sites of action.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Proposed workup of otherwise medically cleared patients on DOAC prior to surgical repair of hip fracture.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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