Topical tranexamic acid in hip fractures: a randomized, placebo-controlled double-blinded study.

BACKGROUND: Tranexamic acid (TXA) has been shown to reduce perioperative blood loss in elective orthopedic surgery. The safety of intravenous TXA in nonelective hip fracture surgery is uncertain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical TXA in hip fracture surgery. METHODS: Adult patients presenting to a community hospital with a hip fracture requiring surgery were randomly assigned to receive topical TXA or placebo. Hemoglobin and troponin I levels were measured preoperatively and on postoperative days 1, 2 and 3. All postoperative blood transfusions were recorded. Complications, including acute coronary syndrome (ACS), venous thromboembolism (VTE), cerebrovascular accidents (CVA), surgical site infections (SSI) and 90-day mortality, were recorded. RESULTS: Data were analyzed for 65 patients (31 in the TXA group, 34 in the control group). Hemogloblin level was significantly higher on postoperative days 1 and 2 in the TXA group than in the control group. The difference in hemoglobin level between the groups was not statistically significant by postoperative day 3. Significantly fewer units of packed red blood cells were transfused in the TXA group (2 units v. 8 units); however, 2 of the units in the control group were given intraoperatively, and when these were excluded the difference was not significant. The incidence of ACS, CVA, VTE, SSI, transfusion and all-cause mortality at 90 days did not differ significantly between the groups. CONCLUSION: Topical TXA reduces early postoperative blood loss after hip fracture surgery without increased patient risk. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov, no. NCT02993341.

Dedicated orthopedic trauma theatres: effect on morbidity and mortality in a single trauma centre.

BACKGROUND: A general trend in orthopedic traumatology is the advent of daily, dedicated orthopedic trauma theatres. Availability of trauma theatres is believed to decrease morbidity and mortality, but this remains unproven. We performed a retrospective review comparing morbidity and mortality outcomes at a single institution before and after the establishment of a dedicated trauma room. The purpose was to determine whether a change in outcomes occurred for a single routine procedure with known outcome expectations (hemiarthroplasty of the hip after femoral neck fracture) with the implementation of a designated trauma theatre. METHODS: We examined a cohort of 457 elderly patients (245 before and 212 after trauma theatre implementation) who underwent hemiarthroplasty for displaced low-energy subcapital hip fractures. RESULTS: Patients in both groups were similar in terms of age, sex ratio and ASA classification. We found statistically significant differences favouring the dedicated trauma room system for postoperative morbidity. Despite this outcome, the average time to surgery for these patients significantly increased. We noted no difference in mortality between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: The hip fracture population can be treated safely in the context of dedicated trauma room time; however, there needs to be prioritization of hip fractures in a tertiary care centre or other trauma cases will tend to take precedence.