Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The relationship between mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet count (PC, MPV/PC) has been studied in detail in various diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the MPV/PC ratio in estimating the risk of postoperative mortality in unstable pertrochanteric fractures. In addition, serum biomarkers such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) will be compared with the MPV/PC ratio in predicting mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of eligible adult patients with a pertrochanteric fracture who admitted to the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology between January 2011 and December 2019. The MPV/PC ratio was estimated as the MPV value divided by the PC at admission, postoperative day 2, and postoperative day 5 of the surgery. The clinical outcome was 30-day mortality and overall mortality. RESULTS: We included 447 patients who received unstable pertrochanteric fracture surgery. In multivariate Cox proportional hazard models, higher MPV/PC ratios on admission were significant risk factors for 30-day mortality. In the ROC analysis, MPV/platelet ratio ≥ 0.048 at admission was critical for 30-day mortality (sensitivity 0.636, specificity 0.659, p < 0.001). DISCUSSION: The MPV/PC ratio alone predicted 30-day mortality in patients with pertrochanteric fracture. Further prospective and multicenter clinical trials supporting our findings and aiming to uncover the reason for the change in blood parameters will help to reduce mortality in unstable pertrochanteric fractures.