Blood use in urgent operations for patients with fractures of the femoral neck.

Unnecessary preoperative cross-matching of blood wastes time and money and may increase morbidity and mortality by delaying a necessary operation. One hundred and ninety-three consecutive patients who underwent semi-urgent operative treatment for fractures of the neck of the femur at a large district general hospital were evaluated. Of the patients with haemoglobin values of 11 g/dl or more, only 12 per cent required transfusion for the operation. None of the patients with fractures treated by 'pinning' required a transfusion. It is our opinion that patients with normal preoperative haemoglobin levels can undergo operative treatment for fractures of the neck of femur after typing but without the necessity of cross-matching blood.