2023 AAOS Annual Meeting: Liberal Transfusion Threshold Leads to Higher Infection Rates, Orthopaedic Trauma, and Anemia: Conservative vs. Liberal Transfusion Strategy (ORACL), a Prospective Randomized Study 30-Day Inpatient Complications

99 asymptomatic musculoskeletal trauma patients were randomized to receive a conservative transfusion threshold strategy (n=50) or a liberal transfusion threshold strategy (n=49). The primary outcome of interest was the rate of infection (overall, deep, superficial). Secondary outcomes of interest included complications that might occur due to anemia or transfusion. Outcomes were assessed within 30 days of admission. The rate of overall and deep infection was significantly lower in the conservative group compared to the liberal group. No differences in complication rate was observed.