Pro-inflammatory interleukins in patients operated on for proximal femur fracture.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to measure plasma IL 6 and IL 8 in patients with proximal femoral fracture (PFF) during the early phases of trauma and operation and to find out if there was any correlation between these ILs and the post-operative lower limb oedema. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty patients with a median age of 81 years were grouped into pertrochanteric fracture (PTF) (n = 16) and femoral cervical fracture (FCF) (n = 14). Plasma interleukin levels were determined on blood samples obtained from the common femoral vein, immediately after hospital admission, 1 h before operation, and post-operatively at 1, 6, 12, 24, 48 h and on the 7th day. Thigh oedema was calculated by the frustum method. RESULTS: In the patients with PTF, maximum mean plasma IL-6 and IL-8 values were found, respectively at 24 h (45.12 pg/mL) and 6 hours (21.7 pg/mL) postoperatively. Whereas, in the patients with FCF, it was respectively, at 12 h (33.1 pg/mL) and 6 h (17.0 pg/mL), for IL-6 and IL-8 post operatively. The patients with PTF and FCF had respectively, 34.1% and 27.4% more thigh oedema in the operated limb on the 7th post-operative day as compared to the preoperative oedema volume (p<0.001). No significant correlation could be found between the plasma IL-6 and IL-8 levels and oedema in the operated limb. CONCLUSION: Increased levels of IL 6 and IL 8 suggest ongoing inflammation.