Transfusion After Femur Fracture in a Cave.

Wilderness Environ MedDec 5, 2025 (epub)
Case ReportEmergency MedicineOrthopedic Surgery

Roger B Mortimer, Andrew W Voss, David R Wharton

✦ AI-curated · Sources linked

Case in brief

A 54-year-old man sustained an open femur fracture and head injury after slipping deep inside a cave. Companions controlled bleeding with direct pressure and improvised a splint, then called for help. Rescuers found him hypotensive and with altered mental status. During the prolonged evacuation, he received 1 unit of blood while awaiting a technical rope ascent. He exited the cave 21 hours after injury and was flown to a trauma center, where he made a full recovery.

What made this case unusual

Blood transfusion was given during a technically complex cave evacuation, before the patient could be raised from a 179-meter pit.

Diagnostic / clinical pearl

In remote, technically difficult evacuations, early bleeding control, splinting, and stabilization may be essential while definitive trauma care remains inaccessible.

Source

PubMed · PMID 41348580

Published in Wilderness Environ Med. This summary was written by xxcode from the publication's abstract and metadata. It is not peer reviewed and is not a substitute for the original article. For clinical decisions, review the original publication.

ShareTelegramLinkedIn

AI-generated summaries may contain errors or omissions. Verify clinically important information with the original publication.

More in Emergency Medicine

Clinical ResearchHematology

Ponatinib-Blinatumomab or Imatinib-Chemotherapy for Adult Ph-Positive ALL.

This multicenter, phase 3 randomized trial compared frontline ponatinib plus blinatumomab with imatinib plus chemotherapy in adults with Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

N Engl J MedOct 15, 2026Read summary
Clinical ResearchHematology

Efficacy and safety of mitapivat in patients with sickle cell disease (RISE UP): a phase 3, double-blind, global, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

RISE UP was a phase 3, double-blind, global, randomised, placebo-controlled trial conducted at 69 sites in 15 countries. It evaluated twice-daily mitapivat in patients older than 16 years with sickle cell disease…

LancetOct 24, 2026Read summary
Clinical ResearchRheumatology

Ianalumab for the Treatment of Patients with Sjögren's Disease.

Two 52-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase III trials evaluated monthly or less frequent ianalumab in patients with active Sjögren's disease.

N Engl J MedOct 22, 2026Read summary

Want this personalized?

Stop searching the literature. Choose what you follow and xxcode will build your personalized medical digest.

  • Your specialties
  • Your filters and thresholds
  • Clinical Research + Case Reports, tuned separately
  • Automatic weekly delivery
  • Audio and text
Create my personalized digestSee plans

Prefer listening? Personalized audio digests are available with Pro.

Stay updated for free

Get the 3 most interesting publications in one specialty each week.

Weekly email. Unsubscribe anytime.