Effect of Intravenous Tranexamic Acid on Reduction of Blood Losses in Hip Fracture Patients

Overview

Studies have shown that hip fractures have a significant perioperative blood loss. Postoperative anaemia is associated with a higher morbidity and mortality. Tranexamic acid is a safe and effective antifibrinolytic widely used to reduce blood loss in other forms of orthopaedic surgery and in traumatized patients. However, evidence on the effectiveness of TXA in lower extremity fracture care is more limited. Hip fractures represent a common orthopedic injury in a fragile patient population that often necessitates post-operative blood transfusion thereby putting the patient at additional risk of complications. The goal of this study is to assess if the use of tranexamic acid in patients with hip fractures will result in a reduction in blood losses and blood transfusion rates. Our hypothesis is that by providing intravenous TXA at the time of surgery will decrease the amount of preoperative and intraoperative bleeding thereby leading to a decreased need for postoperative transfusion. This a double blinded, placebo controlled, therapeutic trial in which the patients will be randomized to receive TXA or a placebo (saline solution). Treatment will be administered pre-operatively as well as at the time of surgical incision. The primary outcome will be need for blood transfusion. Secondary outcomes will include calculated perioperative blood loss, length of stay, and rate of thromboembolic events, and 90 day mortality.

Candidates for the study will be consecutive patients with a diagnosis of hip fractures treated at our center. All patients with hip fracture meeting inclusion criteria will be recruited for enrollment into the study. Informed consent will be obtained from the patient prior to randomization. At that time, each patient will be randomized into one of two groups by a independent staff using computer generated randomization and allocation concealment. The two patient groups will include: 1. Study group: 1g of intravenous tranexamic acid at the time of surgical incision. 2. Control group: placebo injection (saline solution) at the time of surgical incision. Both patients and the treating surgeons will be blinded with regard to placebo vs. treatment until completion of the study. Patients will be treated surgically with a long trochanteric femoral nail (TFN) or hemiarthroplasty. Blood transfusion criteria will remain consistent with hospital standards (Hb\<8 g/dL or \>9 g/dL if symptomatic anemia). Total number of blood transfusions received will be documented upon patient discharge. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis will remain consistent with hospital standards (subcutaneous heparin from admission until 12 hours prior to surgery and beginning 6 hours after surgery). After discharge, ..... Patients will be followed at regular intervals (1mo, 3mo, and at least 6mo) and at each time point the patient will be asked to report any adverse events (DVT, PT, Stroke, myocardial infarction, infection, hospitalization). Diagnostic studies to assess for thromboembolic events (i.e. DVT, pulmonary embolism (PE), and stroke) will be ordered only if the patient develops clinical signs or symptoms that justify their use.