The Use of Tranexamic Acid in Hip and Pelvic Fracture Surgeries

Evaluation of the efficacy of perioperative tranexamic acid in patients with pelvic and acetabular fractures: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Tranexamic acid (TXA) is commonly used to reduce perioperative bleeding in various surgeries, including acetabular and pelvic fractures treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). However, research on TXA's effectiveness and safety in this context is conflicting. To address this, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on TXA's efficacy and safety in patients with acetabular and pelvic fractures undergoing ORIF.

METHODS

We systematically searched Cochrane, PubMed, and EMBASE databases until August 30, 2023. Our evaluation of TXA focused on 6 domains: estimated blood loss (EBL), blood transfusion units, transfusion rates, thromboembolic events, other complications, and surgery duration. Data from these studies were analyzed using RevMan Manager 5.4.

RESULTS

This study included 4 randomized controlled trials with 179 patients with acetabular and pelvic fractures treated with TXA. The analysis showed that TXA did not significantly reduce EBL, packed red blood cell transfusion units, blood transfusion rates, or surgery duration. There was no significant difference in thromboembolic events or other postoperative complications, like surgical wound issues, pneumonia, heterotopic ossification, and sciatic nerve injuries, between the TXA and control groups.

CONCLUSION

TXA did not demonstrate a significant benefit in reducing perioperative bleeding or complications in patients treated with ORIF for acetabular and pelvic fractures. The utilization of TXA in such clinical scenarios remains a topic necessitating further rigorous investigation to delineate its role in this clinical setting.

Efficacy and Safety of Orally and Intravenously Administration of Tranexamic Acid in Patients with Elderly Femoral Neck Fracture

OBJECTIVE

For elderly femoral neck fracture patients, anemia is one of the most common complications, increasing the risk of postoperative adverse events. Tranexamic acid (TXA) has been widely applied to the perioperative blood management. However, the optimal route of TXA administration in elderly femoral neck fracture remains unclear. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral and intravenous (IV) application of TXA in elderly patients with femoral neck fracture undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) and hemiarthroplasty (HA).

METHODS

All elderly patients aged over 65 years old diagnosed with femoral neck fracture admitted to the trauma orthopedics from August 1, 2020 to February 28, 2022 were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. Participants were divided into three groups: oral group: TXA 2g orally 2 h before incision; IV group: intravenous infusion of TXA 1g 15 min before incision; and control group: usual hemostatic method. The primary outcomes were total blood loss, allogeneic transfusion rate, and postoperative thromboembolic events. SPSS 23.0 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA) was used for statistical analysis, and p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

A total of 100 patients were enrolled, including 32 cases in the oral group, 34 cases in the IV group and 34 cases in the control group. Compared with the control group, the total perioperative blood loss in the oral and IV groups was significantly decreased (763.92 ± 358.64 mL vs 744.62 ± 306.88 mL vs 1250.60 ± 563.37 mL, p = 0.048). No significant difference was identified between the oral and IV groups (p = 0.970). The rate of allogeneic transfusion was lower in the oral and IV groups than in the control group, but the difference had no statistical significant (6 vs 5 vs 12, p = 0.108), However, subgroup analysis showed that the IV and oral groups in patients who underwent THA have significant lower transfusion rate compared with the control group (1 vs 3 vs 7, p = 0.02). During 6 months follow-up, no thromboembolic events were identified. Two patients (one from the oral group and one from the control group) died of respiratory failure. The cost of blood management from the oral group was significantly lower than IV (p < 0.001) and control groups (p = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

Elderly patients with femoral neck fracture undergoing THA can benefit from both IV and oral administration of tranexamic acid. The results of these two administration routes are similar in safety and effectiveness. A similar tendency was observed in patients undergoing HA. Oral TXA is more cost-benefit compared with intravenous applications.

Short Peptide Nanofiber Biomaterials Ameliorate Local Hemostatic Capacity of Surgical Materials and Intraoperative Hemostatic Applications in Clinics

Short designer self-assembling peptide (dSAP) biomaterials are a new addition to the hemostat group. It may provide a diverse and robust toolbox for surgeons to integrate wound microenvironment with much safer and stronger hemostatic capacity than conventional materials and hemostatic agents. Especially in noncompressible torso hemorrhage (NCTH), diffuse mucosal surface bleeding, and internal medical bleeding (IMB), with respect to the optimal hemostatic formulation, dSAP biomaterials are the ingenious nanofiber alternatives to make bioactive neural scaffold, nasal packing, large mucosal surface coverage in gastrointestinal surgery (esophagus, gastric lesion, duodenum, and lower digestive tract), epicardiac cell-delivery carrier, transparent matrix barrier, and so on. Herein, in multiple surgical specialties, dSAP-biomaterial-based nano-hemostats achieve safe, effective, and immediate hemostasis, facile wound healing, and potentially reduce the risks in delayed bleeding, rebleeding, post-operative bleeding, or related complications. The biosafety in vivo, bleeding indications, tissue-sealing quality, surgical feasibility, and local usability are addressed comprehensively and sequentially and pursued to develop useful surgical techniques with better hemostatic performance. Here, the state of the art and all-round advancements of nano-hemostatic approaches in surgery are provided. Relevant critical insights will inspire exciting investigations on peptide nanotechnology, next-generation biomaterials, and better promising prospects in clinics.

Comparative efficacy and safety of different hemostatic medications during spinal surgery: A network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Significant blood loss is still one of the most frequent issues in spinal surgery. There were different hemostatic methods to prevent blood loss during spinal surgery. However, the optimal hemostatic therapy for spinal surgery is controversial. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of different hemostatic therapies in spinal surgery.

METHODS

Two independent reviewers conducted electronic literature searches in 3 electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library database) as well as a manual search to identify eligible clinical studies from inception to Nov 2022. Studies that including different hemostatic therapy (tranexamic acid [TXA], epsilon-acetyl aminocaproic acid [EACA], and aprotinin [AP]) for spinal surgery were included. The Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed with a random effects model. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) analysis was performed to determine the ranking order. All analyses were performed by R software and Stata software. P value less than .05 was identified as statistically significant.

RESULTS

Finally, a total of 34 randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria and finally included in this network meta-analysis. The SUCRA shows that TXA ranked first (SUCRA, 88.4%), AP ranked second (SUCRA, 71.6%), EACA ranked third (SUCRA, 39.9%), and placebo ranked the last (SUCRA, 0.3%) as for total blood loss. The SUCRA shows that TXA ranked first (SUCRA, 97.7%), AP ranked second (SUCRA, 55.8%), EACA ranked third (SUCRA, 46.2%), and placebo ranked the last (SUCRA, 0.2%) for need for transfusion.

CONCLUSIONS

TXA appears optimal in the reduction of perioperative bleeding and blood transfusion during spinal surgery. However, considering the limitations in this study, more large-scale, well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings.

Safety and efficacy of perioperative tranexamic acid infusion in acetabular fracture fixation: A randomized placebo-controlled double-blind prospective study

INTRODUCTION

Open reduction and internal fixation of acetabular fracture is associated with significant blood loss. Although Tranexamic acid (TXA) infusion effectively reduces perioperative blood loss and transfusion requirements in elective orthopedic surgery, its efficacy in major orthopedic trauma surgery is controversial.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Sixty-three patients undergoing open reduction and internal fixation of acetabular fracture were randomized into either TXA (n = 36) or placebo (n = 27) group. TXA group received a bolus dose of TXA (10 mg/kg) 15 min prior to incision, followed by another similar dose after 3 h of surgery. The placebo group received the same volume of normal saline similarly. All patients were operated on by a single pelviacetabular surgeon with a uniform perioperative protocol. The intraoperative blood loss, drain output, the number of blood transfusions, postoperative hemoglobin (Hb) drop, and hematocrit (Hct) drop were calculated.

RESULTS

Both groups were similar in relation to age, sex, BMI, preoperative Hb, the timing of surgery, fracture pattern, operative time, and surgical approaches. The mean postoperative Hb was 10.35 ± 1.36 gm% in TXA group and 9.74 ± 1.98 gm% in placebo group (p-value 0.158). There were no differences in intraoperative blood loss (438.11 ml vs. 442.81, p=.947), drain output (131.94 ml vs. 129.63, p=.870), and blood transfusion (8 patients vs. five patients, p=.719) between the groups. The drop in Hb and Hct in the postoperative period was also statistically not significant between the groups.

CONCLUSION

There is no significant reduction in blood loss and blood transfusion with the use of intravenous Tranexamic acid in open reduction and internal fixation of acetabular fractures.

Is intravenous tranexamic acid effective in reduction of blood loss during pelvic and acetabular surgery?

PURPOSE

Pelvic and acetabular surgery is associated with one of the highest amounts of blood loss. Tranexamic acid is a good choice to reduce blood loss during this type of surgery. However, being antifibrinolytic drug, the chance to have coagulation complications including DVT is a risk that should be considered particularly in such major trauma patients with the body's response to trauma and with possible prolonged bed stay. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of intravenous tranexamic acid injection during pelvic and acetabular surgery for reduction of blood loss during surgery and after surgery and to evaluate any possible complications for its use.

METHODS

This prospective randomized clinical trial includes 97 patients divided between two groups; group 1 (G1) which received TXA, while the second group (G2) is the control group. The primary outcome measures were total blood loss (TBL), allogenic blood units transfused, and the blood lost intra-operatively (IBL). The TBL was calculated by the haemoglobin balance method while the intra-operative blood loss was measured by the gravimetric method. Any complications related to the drug were evaluated particularly DVT.

RESULTS

The study showed significantly less TBL (G1 = 829.7 ± 219.2, G2 = 1036.9 ± 314.9) and blood transfusion (G1 = 52.4 ± 40 g, G2 = 89.4 ± 60.6 g) in G1 compared to the G2.

CONCLUSION

This study proved the possible reduction of TBL and the need of blood transfusion by the use of TXA in pelvic and acetabular injuries.

Intravenous Tranexamic Acid Decreases Blood Transfusions and Blood Loss for Patients with Surgically Treated Hip Fractures

Introduction

Tranexamic acid can decrease blood loss related to surgery and trauma. The primary objective of this study is to examine if the use of a single dose of peri-operative TXA significantly decreases the rate of allogenic blood transfusions in the setting of operative care of hip fractures. Secondary objectives included examining if total blood loss was decreased by TXA in operative hip fractures as well as examining the safety of TXA by measuring the rates venous thromboembolism (VTE).

Methods

Retrospective chart review of 505 patients who were operatively treated for hip fractures at a single facility was performed. In a non-randomized fashion, 307 patients received TXA and 198 patients did not. Patients received 1 gram of TXA prior to incision. Blood transfusion was the primary end point. Blood loss was calculated using the hemoglobin balance method. Chart was reviewed for VTE events during hospitalization.

Results

505 patients were analyzed. The use of single perioperative dose of TXA in the surgical management of hip fracture resulted in absolute risk reduction of transfusion of 7.7% and relative risk reduction of transfusion by 29%. This was statistically significant with P =.04. Patients who received TXA on average lost 235 ml less blood compared to those who did not receive TXA (P <.0001). No increase in VTE events were found in either group during hospitalization.

Conclusion

This study supports the use of TXA is decrease blood loss and transfusion rates in patients with hip fractures. TXA can be used routinely to decrease complications in this usually fragile population.

Transfusion in orthopaedic surgery : a retrospective multicentre cohort study

Aims

Orthopaedic surgeries are complex, frequently performed procedures associated with significant haemorrhage and perioperative blood transfusion. Given refinements in surgical techniques and changes to transfusion practices, we aim to describe contemporary transfusion practices in orthopaedic surgery in order to inform perioperative planning and blood banking requirements.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study of adult patients who underwent orthopaedic surgery at four Canadian hospitals between 2014 and 2016. We studied all patients admitted to hospital for nonarthroscopic joint surgeries, amputations, and fracture surgeries. For each surgery and surgical subgroup, we characterized the proportion of patients who received red blood cell (RBC) transfusion, the mean/median number of RBC units transfused, and exposure to platelets and plasma.

Results

Of the 14,584 included patients, the most commonly performed surgeries were knee arthroplasty (24.8%), hip arthroplasty (24.6%), and hip fracture surgery (17.4%). A total of 10.3% of patients received RBC transfusion; the proportion of patients receiving RBC transfusions varied widely based on the surgical subgroup (0.0% to 33.1%). Primary knee arthroplasty and hip arthroplasty, the two most common surgeries, were associated with in-hospital transfusion frequencies of 2.8% and 4.5%, respectively. RBC transfusion occurred in 25.0% of hip fracture surgeries, accounting for the greatest total number of RBC units transfused in our cohort (38.0% of all transfused RBC units). Platelet and plasma transfusions were uncommon.

Conclusion

Orthopaedic surgeries were associated with variable rates of transfusion. The rate of RBC transfusion is highly dependent on the surgery type. Identifying surgeries with the highest transfusion rates, and further evaluation of factors that contribute to transfusion in identified at-risk populations, can serve to inform perioperative planning and blood bank requirements, and facilitate pre-emptive transfusion mitigation strategies.

Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2(10):850–857.