Is Tranexamic Acid Safe and Efficacious in Hip Surgeries?

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Anesthesiology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Hip fracture incidence is rising globally, projecting millions of cases by 2050.
• Hip fracture management and replacement surgeries often involve significant blood loss, leading to perioperative anemia.
• Tranexamic acid, an antifibrinolytic, shows promise in mitigating blood loss during orthopedic procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of tranexamic acid in reducing blood loss during hip surgeries.
• To assess the safety and effectiveness of tranexamic acid in patients undergoing hip replacement.
• To compare outcomes such as blood transfusion requirements and ambulation time between tranexamic acid and placebo groups.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 48 patients undergoing hip surgery from May 2020 to April 2021.
• Patients were divided into two groups: Group T (tranexamic acid) and Group P (normal saline placebo).
• Tranexamic acid (10 mg/kg bolus + 1 mg/kg/h infusion) or saline was administered preoperatively and intraoperatively.

Main Results:

• Total blood loss was significantly lower in the tranexamic acid group (474.12 ml) compared to the placebo group (647.41 ml) (p<0.001).
• Packed red blood cell transfusion rates were lower in the tranexamic acid group (37.5%) versus the placebo group (75%) (p=0.020).
• A higher percentage of patients in the tranexamic acid group ambulated within 24 hours (37.5%) compared to the placebo group (p<0.001).

Conclusions:

• Preoperative tranexamic acid administration is effective in minimizing intraoperative blood loss in hip surgery.
• Tranexamic acid significantly reduces the need for blood transfusions in patients undergoing hip procedures.
• The study supports the safety and efficacy of tranexamic acid for patients undergoing hip surgeries, potentially improving recovery times.