Use of Transexamic Acid in Hip Replacement

Overview

Studies have shown that tranexamic acid reduces blood loss and transfusion need in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty. However, no to date, no study has been large enough to determine definitively whether the drug is safe and effective. The present study was designed to verify noninferior efficacy and safety of topical intra-articular TXA compared with intravenous TXA in primary THA.

Treatment of choice for osteoarthritis of the hip, developmental dysplasia of the hip, and osteonecrosis of the femoral head in older patients. In association with the investigators aging society, the number of patients who will need THA may increase significantly in the next few years \[1\]. However, in THA, considerable blood loss remains a major problem, which can lead to a need for allogeneic blood transfusion. Such transfusion of allogeneic erythrocytes is not free of adverse events and has been associated with transmission of infectious diseases, increased postoperative bacterial infection, immune sensitization, transfusion-related acute lung injury, intravascular hemolysis, transfusion-induced coagulopathy, renal failure, admission to intensive care, and even death. Several effective interventions have been developed to reduce blood loss and postoperative transfusion rates, such as preoperative autologous donation, cell salvage, controlled hypotension, regional anesthesia, and the use of erythropoietin and antifibrinolytics. The antifibrinolytics include aprotinin, tranexamic acid (TXA), and ε-aminocaproic acid, which have different mechanisms of action \[8\]. TXA is a synthetic derivative of the amino acid lysine and a competitive inhibitor of plasminogen activation, and thus interferes with fibrinolysis. Compared with other antifibrinolytic drugs, TXA is cheaper and safer than aprotinin and more potent than the others. Numerous studies have evaluated the use of antifibrinolytics in orthopedic surgery and have shown them to be effective in reducing blood loss. However, the available clinical trials and meta-analyses lack sufficient statistical power to determine the effectiveness of antifibrinolytic agents in total hip arthroplasty.

Conditions

Interventions

Eligibility

Locations (1)

Outcomes