Tranexamic Acid Use in Acute Hip Fractures

Overview

BACKGROUND: Tranexamic acid (TXA) has been used widely for the reduction of post operative blood loss for various orthopaedic procedures including but not limited to total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty. A recent multihospital meta-analysis conducted in 2013 showed that patients who received TXA showed a significant reduction in post-operative transfusion (20.1% to 7.7%). The procedures the investigators will be evaluating are the intramedullary nail for intertrochanteric fracture and hip hemiarthroplasty. These procedures are similar to the total hip or knee replacement in that they can result in significant blood loss that requires a post operative transfusion. STUDY PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of TXA to decrease the rate of post-operative transfusion for acute hip fractures repaired with the following two methods, intramedullary nailing for intertrochanteric fracture and hemiarthroplasty. METHODS: The model for the study is a prospective randomized control trial. Patients will be placed in one of two arms of the study after passing our inclusion criteria. The arms will be for either the intramedullary nailing for intertrochanteric fracture or for hemiarthroplasty. These two categories will be subdivided into those receiving TXA and those not receiving TXA. The patients in each category will have standard post-operative care and laboratory testing. The investigators will record the patients in either arm of the study, whether it be no TXA or TXA, who require post-operative transfusion within 1 week of the operation.

This is a prospective randomized control trial. Patients scheduled for either intramedullary nailing for intertrochanteric fractures or for hemiarthroplasty will be selected for the study population. The proposed research is needed to bridge the gap between the efficacy of TXA in elective, non-emergency procedures (such as total knee arthoplasty and total hip arthroplasty) and its efficacy in emergent acute hip fracture interventions. This study will use intravenous TXA (1g pre-op and 1g post-op) to study its effect on both the reduction of blood loss during intramedullary nail for intertrochanteric fractures and hemiarthroplasty procedures, and the subsequent reduction in the rate of blood transfusion in this patient population. Both study and control groups will have standard post-operative care and laboratory testing and will be followed for one year post-operatively to record adverse events.