Using Risk Factors and Preoperative Inflammatory Markers to Predict 3-Year Mortality in Patients with Unstable Intertrochanteric Femur Fractures

Abstract

Purpose: Preoperative biomarkers such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratio (LCR), and albumin have been proposed to predict postoperative outcomes in various conditions. This study investigated their association with 3-year mortality in elderly patients undergoing closed reduction and internal fixation with proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (CRIF with PFNA) for unstable intertrochanteric femur fractures (UIFF). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 306 patients aged ≥65 years who underwent CRIF with PFNA for UIFF between April 2012 and December 2020. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis determined optimal cutoffs: LCR 0.441 (sensitivity 48.2%, specificity 78.4%), NLR 3.573 (sensitivity 83.2%, specificity 36.3%), and albumin 3.250 g/dL (sen sitivity 52.0%, specificity 76.1%). Patients were dichotomized into low versus high groups for each marker. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses assessed associations with 3-year mortality. Results: At 3 years postoperatively, 76 patients (30.4%) had died. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis revealed that patients with low LCR (<0.441) and low albumin (<3.250 g/dL) had significantly shorter survival compared to those with higher values. In contrast, stratification by NLR did not yield significant differences in survival. Multivariate Cox regression identified both low LCR and low albumin as independent predictors of increased 3-year mortality (P<0.05), whereas NLR showed no prognostic significance. Conclusion: Preoperative LCR and albumin levels are valuable prognostic biomarkers for 3-year survival following CRIF with PFNA in elderly UIFF patients. Incorporating these parameters into preoperative risk assessment may improve clinical deci sion-making and patient counseling, while NLR appears less predictive.