Authors’ Disclosure Statement: The authors report no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this article.
Dr. Nodzo is a Lower Extremity Adult Reconstruction Surgeon, Department of Orthopedics, Mike O’Callaghan Medical Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. Dr. Pavlesen is a Clinical Research Associate; Dr. Ritter is Assistant Professor of Clinical Orthopedics, Foot and Ankle Surgery, Trauma Surgery, Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine; and Dr. Boyle is an Orthopedic Surgery Resident, Department of Orthopedics, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York.
Address correspondence to: K. Keely Boyle, MD, Department of Orthopedics, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, 462 Grider Street, Buffalo, NY 14215 (tel, 571-309-8119; fax, 716-898-3398; email, kkboyle@buffalo.edu).
Am J Orthop. 2018;47(8). Copyright Frontline Medical Communications Inc. 2018. All rights reserved.
Scott R. Nodzo, MD Sonja Pavlesen, MD, MS Christopher Ritter, MD K. Keely Boyle, MD . Tranexamic Acid Reduces Perioperative Blood Loss and Hemarthrosis in Total Ankle Arthroplasty. Am J Orthop. August 6, 2018
TAKE-HOME POINTS
TXA is an inexpensive and effective hemostatic agent used during TAA.
The ankle has a thin soft tissue envelope that does not have elaborate elastic properties. The soft tissue release and bleeding surfaces of bone during TAA are not as extensive when compared to TKA and THA, but the intra-articular volume is smaller and surrounding soft tissues may be less yielding when blood accumulation occurs.
If no major contraindication is present, routine use of TXA is recommended to assist in blood loss management during TAA.
TXA decreases postoperative hemarthrosis and helps to reduce the risk of postoperative wound complications.
The administration of TXA in the appropriate patient has the potential to decrease hospital cost by controlling postoperative pain and swelling allowing for earlier discharge.
References
ABSTRACT
Tranexamic acid (TXA) is an effective agent used for reducing perioperative blood loss and decreasing the potential for postoperative hemarthrosis. We hypothesized that patients who had received intraoperative TXA during total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) would have a reduction in postoperative drain output, thereby resulting in a reduced risk of postoperative hemarthrosis and lower wound complication rates.
A retrospective review was conducted on 50 consecutive patients, 25 receiving TXA (TXA-TAA) and 25 not receiving TXA (No TXA-TAA), who underwent an uncemented TAA between September 2011 and December 2015. Demographic characteristics, drain output, preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin levels, operative and postoperative course, and minor and major wound complications of the patients were reviewed.
Drain output was significantly less in the TXA-TAA group compared to that in the No TXA-TAA group (71.6 ± 60.3 vs 200.2 ± 117.0 mL, respectively, P < .0001). The overall wound complication rate in the No TXA-TAA group was higher (20%, 5/25) than that in the TXA-TAA group (8%, 2/25) (P = .114). The mean change in preoperative to postoperative hemoglobin level was significantly less in the TXA-TAA group compared to that in the No TXA-TAA group (1.5 ± 0.6 vs 2.0 ± 0.4 g/dL, respectively, P = .01).
TXA is an effective hemostatic agent when used during TAA. TXA reduces perioperative blood loss, hemarthrosis, and the risk of wound complications.
