Improved Patient-Reported Outcomes With Extended Oral Tranexamic Acid Following Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Pharmacology
• Patient Outcomes

Background:

• Tranexamic acid (TXA) is standard for reducing blood loss in total joint arthroplasty (TJA).
• Literature supports extended postoperative TXA in total knee arthroplasty (TKA).
• This study examines extended oral TXA in total hip arthroplasty (THA) and TKA.

Purpose of the Study:

• Evaluate the impact of an extended postoperative oral TXA regimen.
• Compare outcomes between patients receiving extended oral TXA and a historical cohort.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of 312 patients undergoing THA/TKA.
• Standard intravenous TXA plus three days of postoperative oral TXA.
• Comparison of patient-reported outcomes, length of stay, complications, readmissions, and ED visits.

Main Results:

• Extended TXA significantly improved patient-reported outcomes (27.7 vs 18.1, P < 0.001).
• Reduced TJA-related emergency department visits (OR 0.11, P = 0.007).
• No significant differences in length of stay, readmissions, or complications.

Conclusions:

• Postoperative oral TXA for three days improves early function in THA/TKA patients.
• This regimen does not increase complications or length of stay.
• Extended TXA is a safe and effective adjunct for TJA recovery.