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Review Article| Volume 20, ISSUE 1, P159-170, January 2004

Initial management of pelvic and femoral fractures in the multiply injured patient

      Fractures of the shaft of the femur are the result of high-energy trauma such as motor vehicle collisions, pedestrian accidents, gunshot injuries, and falls from heights. High-energy injuries caused by direct force often are associated with other injuries and open wounds. These injuries, therefore, can be life threatening and result in long-term disability. Patients with femur fractures on average lose up to two or three units of blood as a result of the injury. Up to 50% of all patients require blood transfusion [
      • Wolinsky P.R.
      • Johnson K.D.
      Femoral shaft fractures.
      ,
      • Lieurance R.
      • Benjamin J.B.
      • Rappaport W.D.
      Blood loss and transfusion in patients with isolated femur fractures.
      ].
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