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Introduction

Hip fracture is the most devastating result of osteoporosis (1). Hip fracture in the elderly population, due to its frequent adverse outcomes and high mortality, has become a major medical and public health problem (2–5). According to statistics, 5% of men and 10% of women suffer from hip fractures during their lifetime (6). The mortality rate in the first year after injury of the hip in elderly patients can reach up to 20% (5,6). According to the manual of the Brazilian Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology in 2008, approximately 5% of falls have caused fractures, the most common is a cone fracture. The incidence of hip fractures is increasing in many countries (7), so is the risk of subsequent hip fracture after a fall of elderly people (8). In most cases, fractures have a serious impact on the patient's physical ability and longevity (9). Both the combined spinal-epidural anesthesia and the general anesthesia are common anesthesia methods for hip arthroplasty. Due to the decreased physiological compensatory capacity and the poor cardiopulmonary function of the elderly, the risk of surgery and anesthesia increases in elderly patients. Rashid and his coworkers demonstrated that anesthesia should be customized for the individual needs of the patient (10). The choice of anesthesia in various surgical operations remains controversial (11). Therefore, it is important to choose an anesthesia method that ensures the efficacy of anesthesia while reducing the irritation to the patient and improving the safety of the operation. This study mainly analyzed the effect and clinical value of the general anesthesia and the combined spinal-epidural anesthesia in elderly patients undergoing hip arthroplasty.

Patients and methods

General information

One hundred and six elderly patients who received hip arthroplasty in the department of orthopedics in the Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, University of South China (Hengyang, China) from May 2013 to July 2015 were selected as the research subjects and were divided into the study group (50 patients) and the control group (56 patients) according to different anesthesia methods. The study group consisted of 23 males and 27 females, aged from 60 to 87 (72.5±6.8) years who received combined spinal-epidural anesthesia by ondansetron hydrochloride tablets combined with spinal-epidural puncture kit, and the control group consisted of 27 males and 29 females, aged from 61 to 88 (75.4±7.2) years who received general anesthesia by fast-induced endotracheal intubation. No significant differences existed in terms of sex, age, BMI and other general data between the two groups (P>0.05). All the patients and their families signed the informed consent and cooperated with medical staff to complete relevant medical treatment. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, University of South China. The general information is shown in Table I.

Table I. Comparison of general data between the two groups of patients [n (%)].

Table I.

Comparison of general data between the two groups of patients [n (%)].

Group	Study group (n=50)	Control group (n=56)	χ2/t value	P-value
Sex			0.052	0.820
Male	23	27
Female	27	29
Age (year)			0.149	0.700
≤75	25	29
≥75	25	27
BMI (kg/m2)			0.004	0.947
≤22	22	25
>22	28	31
Heart rate (beat·min−1)	80.64±5.14	79.48±4.84	1.173	0.243
Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)	130.24±8.84	128.51±8.97	0.998	0.321
Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)	86.24±5.16	86.54±5.24	0.296	0.768
Drinking situation			0.210	0.647
Yes	21	26
No	29	30
Smoking situation			0.013	0.911
Yes	20	23
No	30	33

Methods

For patients in both groups, before the anesthesia, the intravenous access was established on the upper limb of the patient, and the detection instrument was connected to the patient to monitor vital signs such as breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate. Patients in the study group received combined spinal-epidural anesthesia by ondansetron hydrochloride tablets combined with spinal-epidural puncture kit, and the specific procedures were as follows: the patient was placed lying on the uninjured side, with the L3-4 gap as the puncture point, and then was anesthetized by the ondansetron hydrochloride tablets combined with spinal-epidural puncture kit. After the successful puncture, 7.5–10 mg of 0.5% bupivacaine was injected into the subarachnoid space in 40 sec, and the epidural tube was placed. For patients whose level of anesthesia did not reach the 8th thoracic level 16 min after the drug administration, a total of 7.75 ml of 2% lidocaine was additionally injected from the epidural tube at two separate times (6.54 ml for the first time and 1.21 ml for the second time). Surgery was started after the spinal anesthesia was stabilized, and 2% lidocaine was added intermittently during the operation according to the situation.

Patients in the control group received general anesthesia by fast-induced endotracheal intubation, and the specific methods were as follows: mask oxygenation and endotracheal intubation were performed on patients with the use of ondansetron at a dose of 0.1 mg for per kilogram of the patient's weight, fentanyl at a dose of 2 µg for per kilogram of the patient's weight, carbazole diazepam at a dose of 0.1 mg for per kilogram of the patient's weight, etomidate at a dose of 0.2 mg for per kilogram of the patient's weight. After 3 min of continuous intubation, the respiration was regulated to a satisfatory state, and then a constant use of fentanyl combined with propofol followed, with a 1:2,000 ratio of the two.

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

All research subjects received hip arthroplasty in the department of orthopedics in the Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, University of South China. Patients with severe impairment in mental function or cognitive function were excluded from the study, so were patients with other cardiovascular diseases, liver dysfunction, and renal dysfunction, and patients allergic to the drugs used.

Observation criteria and evaluation criteria

Comparisons between the two groups were made in terms of the patient's anesthesia effect, complete block time, anesthesia onset time, the hemodynamic parameters at different time points of the patient's surgery, and postoperative adverse reactions. Evaluation criteria for anesthesia effect: excellent effect: patients were calm, with great state of muscle relaxation and no pain symptoms, in no need for adjuvant drugs; good effect: patients were in fairly good state of muscle relaxation, with occasional pain and temporary need for adjuvant drugs; poor effect: patients were not calm, with poor state of muscle relaxation and pain symptoms, in need for adjuvant drugs.

Statistical methods

The data were analyzed and processed using SPSS 19.6 statistical software [Boyi (Beijing) Information Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing, China]. The patient's basic enumeration data was expressed as a percentage [n (%)] and analyzed by the Chi-square test. The complete block time, anesthesia onset time, and hemodynamic parameters were expressed as the mean ± standard deviation (mean ± SD) and calculated using the t-test, and the statistical significance was set at P<0.05.

Results

Comparison of anesthetic effects between the two groups

The rate of excellent and good anesthesia effect in the study group was 98.00%, with 25 patients receiving excellent effect, 24 patients receiving good effect and 1 patient receiving poor effect. The rate of excellent and good anesthesia effect in the control group was 96.43%, with 24 patients receiving excellent effect, 30 patients receiving good effect and 2 patients receiving poor effect. The anesthetic effect of the study group was better than that of the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant (χ2=0.683, P>0.05) (Fig. 1).

Figure 1. Comparison of the anesthesia effects between the two groups. The study group had a superior anesthesia effect than the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant (χ2=0.683, P>0.05).

Comparison of complete block time and anesthesia onset time

The study group had an onset time of 20.8±4.8 sec and a complete block time of 8.9±2.8 min, shorter than the onset time (61.5±17.5 sec) and the complete block time (13.9±2.5 min) in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05) (Table II).

Table II. Comparison of complete block time and anesthesia onset time (mean ± SD).

Table II.

Comparison of complete block time and anesthesia onset time (mean ± SD).

Group	Anesthesia onset time (sec)	Complete block time (min)
Study group (n=50)	20.8±4.8	8.9±2.8
Control group (n=56)	61.5±17.5	13.9±2.5
t value	15.86	10.14
P-value	<0.001	<0.001

Comparison of hemodynamic parameters at different time points in the operation between the two groups

The indexes of heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure before the operation in the study group were 80.64±5.14, 130.24±8.84 and 86.24±5.16, respectively; while heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure before the operation in the control group were 79.48±4.84, 128.51±8.97, and 86.54±5.24, respectively. The differences of the heart rates, systolic blood pressures, and diastolic blood pressures before the operation between the two groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05). The heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure indexes 20 min after the start of the operation in the study group were 74.84±4.27 and 123.47±6.74, 83.07±4.23, respectively, greatly higher than the heart rate (63.17±4.54), the systolic blood pressure (111.27±6.48) and the diastolic blood pressure (73.64±4.64) 20 min after the start of the operation in the control group, and the differences were statistically different (P<0.05). The heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure indexes 15 min before the end of the operation in the study group were 76.94±4.61, 126.54±6.87, and 85.84±4.61, respectively, while the heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure indexes of the control group 15 min before the end of the operation in the control group were 68.41±4.61, 115.64±6.51, 77.56±4.81. The heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure index 15 min before the end of the operation in the study group were significantly higher than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05) (Table III).

Table III. Hemodynamic parameters at different time points in the operation in the two groups (mean ± SD).

Table III.

Hemodynamic parameters at different time points in the operation in the two groups (mean ± SD).

	Study group (n=50)			Control group (n=56)
Group	Before the experiment	20 min after the start of the operation	15 min before the end of the operation	Before the experiment	20 min after the start of the operation	15 min before the end of the operation
Heart rate (beat·min−1)	80.64±5.14	74.84±4.27	76.94±4.61	79.48±4.84	63.17±4.54a	68.41±4.61a
Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)	130.24±8.84	123.47±6.74	126.54±6.87	128.51±8.97	111.27±6.48a	115.64±6.51a
Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)	86.24±5.16	83.07±4.23	85.84±4.61	86.54±5.24	73.64±4.64a	77.56±4.81a

a P<0.05 compared with the study group.

Comparison of postoperative adverse reactions between the two groups

The study group had lower rate of adverse reactions than the control group, with 1 case of venous thrombosis, 1 case of pulmonary infection, and 1 case of nausea and vomiting in the study group, while 7 cases of venous thrombosis, 8 cases of pulmonary infection, and 8 cases of nausea and vomiting in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05) (Table IV).

Table IV. Comparison of postoperative adverse reactions between the two groups [n (%)].

Table IV.

Comparison of postoperative adverse reactions between the two groups [n (%)].

Group	Venous thrombosis	Pulmonary infection	Nausea and vomiting
Study group (n=50)	1 (2.00)	1 (2.00)	1 (2.00)
Control group (n=56)	7 (12.50)	8 (14.29)	8 (14.29)
χ2 value	4.174	5.132	4.174
P-value	0.041	0.024	0.041

Discussion

Hip fracture is one of the most common injuries in the elderly, and is associated with complications and mortality (12–14). Approximately 3 million cases of hip fractures occur each year in the United States, and this number is expected to grow with the increase of elderly population (15). According to relevant reports, early surgery can improve the treatment outcomes, including hospitalization time, pulmonary function, and the ability to return to independent life (16,17). Therefore, it is a wise choice to perform surgical treatment on elderly patients with hip fracture immediately after admission. However, early surgery is not feasible for patients with physiological instability and high risk (18). Joint arthroplasty is often considered a successful treatment beneficial to pain relief and the improvement of quality of life (19). In addition to the quality of surgical treatment, a suitable anesthesia method in accordance with the actual situation of the patient in the specific surgery process is also very important, which will directly affect the patient's surgical quality and prognosis. Thus, a carefully selected anesthesia method according to the situation of the patient is needed to ensure a good surgical result and prognosis. This study compared the efficacy and clinical value of the general anesthesia and the combined spinal-epidural anesthesia in elderly patients undergoing hip arthroplasty.

This study included 106 elderly patients with hip arthroplasty in the department of orthopedics in the Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, University of South China as the research subjects. Patients in the study group underwent a combined spinal-epidural anesthesia by ondansetron hydrochloride tablets combined with spinal-epidural puncture kit, and patients in the control group received a general anesthesia by fast-induced endotracheal intubation. First, the anesthetic effects of the study group and the control group were compared, and the anesthetic effect of the study group was proved to be better than that of the control group, but with no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). No relevant data so far has pointed out whether there is an improvement in performance of the general anesthesia compared with the combined spinal-epidural anesthesia or the opposite.

At present, both local anesthesia and general anesthesia are performed during the operation on the elderly. However, the final choice of anesthesia comes from the anesthesiologist's experience and preferences, as well as discussions with patients and their caregivers (20). Next, this study compared the complete block time and the anesthesia onset time and found that the onset time and complete block time of the study group were shorter than the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Studies have shown that (21) local anesthesia is currently selected during the surgery to shorten the time of possible impact of anesthesia residues on patients. The direct injection of anesthesia into the local nerve innervation of the operation area that can quickly block the generation and transmission of nerve impulses has a positive effect on shortening the anesthesia time and improving the safety of surgery. After that, the hemodynamic parameters of the two groups before the surgery, 20 min after the start of the operation, and 15 min before the end of the operation were compared. The results showed that the two groups were not statistically different in the preoperative heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood (P>0.05); the heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure index of the study group 20 min after the start of the operation were statistically significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05); the heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure index of the study group 15 min before the end of the operation were significantly higher than the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).

No previous study on the hemodynamics parameters before and after hip arthroplasty has been reported. Studies have shown that (22) general anesthesia makes patients unconscious through the use of various intravenous and/or inhaled drugs, which causes fewer cerebrovascular accidents and shorter anesthesia time compared with local anesthesia. Other studies have shown that (23), the more adverse reactions of general anesthesia compared with spinal anesthesia in total hip arthroplasty may be associated with the increased incidence of intraoperative hypotension aroused by general anesthesia, which serves as an excellent support for the view of this study. Finally, comparison of the adverse reactions between the two groups was performed and revealed fewer adverse reactions such as venous thrombosis, pulmonary infection, nausea and vomiting in the study group than in the control group, with a statistical difference (P<0.05). Patients undergoing hip arthroplasty are mainly elderly people who usually suffer from cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and other senile diseases, with a relatively slow blood flow and hypercoagulable blood due to long-term bed rest and joint damage before the surgery. Traction of vessels due to repeated dislocation, restoration and twist of the limbs during the long operation time may cause damage to the intima, promote the production of inflammatory cytokines, activate the exogenous coagulation pathway, and arouse thrombosis. Studies have proven (24) the marginal advantage of local anesthesia in the risk of deep vein thrombosis compared with general anesthesia in patients with hip fracture. White and his team (25) pointed out local anesthesia had a better effect than the general anesthesia to inhibit pulmonary complications, which agrees with the findings of this study.

In this study, despite every possible effort to avoid errors caused by human factors, the small number of research subjects was likely to cause some contingency and deviations in the results.

In summary, the combined spinal-epidural anesthesia by ondansetron hydrochloride tablets combined with spinal-epidural puncture kit had a better anesthesia effect than the general anesthesia by fast-induced endotracheal intubation. Both anesthesia methods could maintain a good anesthesia sate, but combined spinal-epidural anesthesia by ondansetron hydrochloride tablets combined with spinal-epidural puncture kit could shorten the complete block time and the anesthesia onset time and have less impact on the patient's hemodynamic parameters, with a lower incidence of complications.

Acknowledgements

Not applicable.

Funding

No funding was received.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the present study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Authors' contributions

HZ and YoW conceived and designed the study. YiW collected the patient data. HZ and BW analyzed and interpreted the data regarding the elderly patients undergoing hip arthroplasty. HZ was a major contributor in writing the manuscript. BW reviewed the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, University of South China (Hengyang, China). Patients who participated in this research had complete clinical data. Signed informed consents were obtained from the patients or the guardians.

Patient consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

References