Anemia in the orthopedic patient: a diagnostic approach.

Anemia is the most common hematologic abnormality in the orthopedic patient. The diagnostic work-up is relatively simple if a systematic routine for ordering laboratory test is employed. The approach presented here includes a series of alogarithms incorporating pertinent laboratory tests that allow for a presumptive diagnosis and subsequent confirmation of a particular disease process. Whether all or none of the confirmatory tests is carried out depends on the severity of the anemia as well as the clinical setting. Failure to confirm a diagnosis means that other pathways should be followed or that additional diagnostic possibilities should be considered. There has been no attempt to cover all diagnostic possibilities should be considered. There has been no attempt to cover all diagnostic possibilities but rather to demonstrate a general approach to laboratory utilization.