Abstract
A prospective study of the serum levels of unfractionated creatine phosphokinase (CPK) in 69 consecutive elderly patients undergoing surgery for hip fracture is reported. Serum unfractionated CPK levels were measured on admission, on the evening following surgery and daily for the first five days post-operatively. All of the CPK levels measured on admission were within the normal range for this laboratory. A gradual rise in CPK levels followed surgery. On the evening following surgery 75% of values were greater than the upper limit of the normal reference range. The peak values were seen on day 1 post-operatively but 25% of values were still less than the reference maximum. A gradual decline was seen after this and at day 5 post operatively 50% of values were within the normal reference range. A single unfractionated CPK determination is not of diagnostic benefit in the post-operative period in elderly patients with hip fracture. However, patients with intracapsular and intertrochanteric fractures do not show elevation of unfractionated CPK levels prior to surgery.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Pryor, G. A., Williams, D. R. R. Rehabilitation after hip fractures. J. Bone Joint Surg. 1989: 71-B, 471–4.
Hinchey, J. J., Day, P. L. Primary prosthetic replacement in fresh femoral neck fractures. J. Bone Joint Surg. 1964: 46-A, 223–40.
Hunter, G. A. A comparison of the use of internal fixation and prosthetic replacement for fresh fractures of the neck of the femur. Br. J. Surg. 1969: 56, 229–32.
McElwaine, J. P., Curtin, J., O’Brien, R. Fractures of the neck of the femur — a prospective study of early results. Irish J. Medical Science. 1980: 149, 457–64.
Braunwald, E., Alpert, J. S. Acute myocardial infarction. In Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. Tenth Edition. Editors Pefersdorf, R. G., Adams, R. D., Braunwald, E. et al. McGraw-Hill International Book Company, London, 1983, page 1432.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kaar, T.K., O’Brien, M., Duggan, P.F. et al. Perioperative creatine phosphokinase trends in elderly patients with hip fracture. I.J.M.S. 163, 126–127 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02965970
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02965970