Aims. Antifibrinolytic agents, including tranexamic acid (TXA) and epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA), have been shown to be safe and effective for decreasing perioperative blood loss and transfusion following total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, there are few prospective studies that directly compare these agents. The purpose of this study was to compare the benefits of intraoperative intravenous TXA with EACA. Patients and Methods. A total of 235 patients (90 THA and 145 TKA) were enrolled in this prospective, randomized controlled trial at a single tertiary-care referral centre. In the THA cohort, 53.3% of the patients were female with a median age of 59.8 years (interquartile range (IQR) 53.3 to 68.1). In the TKA cohort, 63.4% of the patients were female with a median age of 65.1 years (IQR 59.4 to 69.5). Patients received either TXA (n = 119) or EACA (n = 116) in two doses intraoperatively. The primary outcome measures included change in haemoglobin level and blood volume, postoperative drainage, and rate of transfusion. Secondary outcome measures included postoperative complications, cost, and length of stay (LOS). Results. TKA patients who received EACA had greater drainage (median 320 ml (IQR 185 to 420) vs 158 ml (IQR 110 to 238); p < 0.001), increased loss of blood volume (891 ml (IQR 612 to 1203) vs 661 ml (IQR 514 to 980); p = 0.014), and increased haemoglobin change from the preoperative level (2.1 ml (IQR 1.7 to 2.8) vs 1.9 ml (IQR 1.2 to 2.4); p = 0.016) compared with patients who received TXA. For the THA cohort, no statistically significant differences were observed in any haematological outcome measure. One patient in the EACA group required transfusion. No patient in the TXA group required transfusion. There were no statistically significant differences in number or type of postoperative complications or LOS for either THA or TKA patients regardless of whether they received TXA or EACA. Conclusion. For hip and knee arthroplasty procedures, EACA is associated with increased perioperative blood loss compared with TXA. However, there is no significant difference in transfusion rate. While further prospective studies are needed to compare the efficacy of each agent, we currently recommend
The need to demonstrate probity and fair market competition has increased scrutiny of the relationships between
Cite this article:
The December 2023 Research Roundup360 looks at: Tissue integration and chondroprotective potential of acetabular labral augmentation with autograft tendon: study of a porcine model; The Irish National Orthopaedic Register under cyberattack: what happened, and what were the consequences?; An overview of machine learning in orthopaedic surgery: an educational paper; Beware of the fungus…; New evidence for COVID-19 in patients undergoing joint replacement surgery.
This edition of Cochrane Corner looks at some of the work published by the Cochrane Collaboration, covering pharmacological interventions for the prevention of bleeding in people undergoing definitive fixation or joint replacement for hip, pelvic, and long bone fractures; interventions for reducing red blood cell transfusion in adults undergoing hip fracture surgery: an overview of systematic reviews; and pharmacological treatments for low back pain in adults: an overview of Cochrane Reviews
The October 2024 Arthroplasty Roundup360 looks at: Breaking the mould: female representation in arthroplasty surgery remains low, with elbow leading the way; Post COVID-19: where are we with the 'catch up' in England and Wales?; Prevalence and clinical impact of sarcopenia in patients undergoing total joint replacement: a systematic review and a meta-analysis; Total joint replacement and sleep: the state of the evidence.
Cite this article:
The December 2022 Research Roundup360 looks at: Halicin is effective against
The August 2023 Research Roundup360 looks at: Can artificial intelligence improve the readability of patient education materials?; What is the value of radiology input during a multidisciplinary orthopaedic oncology conference?; Periprosthetic joint infection in patients with multiple arthroplasties; Orthopedic Surgery and Anesthesiology Surgical Improvement Strategies Project - Phase III outcomes; Knot tying in arthroplasty and arthroscopy causes lesions to surgical gloves: a potential risk of infection; Vascular calcification of the ankle in plain radiographs equals diabetes mellitus?
Congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia (CPT) has traditionally been a difficult condition to treat, with high complication rates, including nonunion, refractures, malalignment, and leg length discrepancy. Surgical approaches to treatment of CPT include intramedullary rodding, external fixation, combined intramedullary rodding and external fixation, vascularized fibular graft, and most recently cross-union. The current study aims to compare the outcomes and complication rates of cross-union versus other surgical approaches as an index surgery for the management of CPT. Our hypothesis was that a good index surgery for CPT achieves union and minimizes complications such as refractures and limb length discrepancy. A multicentre study was conducted involving two institutions in Singapore and China. All patients with CPT who were surgically managed between January 2009 and December 2021 were included. The patients were divided based on their index surgery. Group 1 included patients who underwent excision of hamartoma, cross-union of the tibia and fibula, autogenic iliac bone grafting, and internal fixation for their index surgery. Group 2 included patients who underwent all other surgical procedures for their index surgery, including excision of hamartoma, intramedullary rodding, and/or external fixation, without cross-union of the tibia and fibula. Comparisons of the rates of union, refracture, limb length discrepancy, reoperations, and other complications were performed between the two groups.Aims
Methods
