Preoperative saline versus gelatin for hip fracture patients; a randomized trial of 396 patients

Background. The aim of this study was to determine if the preoperative administration of 500 ml of a gelatin colloid solution intravenously before hip fracture surgery improves outcome, compared with a conventional i.v. fluid regime with a crystalloid solution. Methods. Randomized, double blind, controlled trial of i.v. saline vs colloid for 396 patients having hip fracture surgery admitted to a district general hospital. Patients were followed up for 1 yr. Results. There was no statistically significant difference between groups for mortality (30-day mortality 9/198 for saline group vs 19/198 for colloid group, 95% confidence intervals 0.21-1.02), length of hospital stay (22.5 days vs 17.3 days, 95% CI -10.78 to 0.38), or occurrence of postoperative complications. Conclusions. The inclusion of 500 ml of colloid solution to the i.v. fluid regime before hip fracture surgery does not improve outcome.