Cohort study to evaluate the efficacy and potency of tranexamic acid in reducing blood loss during internal fixation of distal femur fracture

Abstract

Background: Tranexamic acid [TXA] is a medication used to treat or prevent excessive blood loss from major trauma. It is aantifibrinolytic haemostatic agent and is used in various cases like orthopaedic surgery, nosebleeds, vaginal bleeding, dental operations etc. The present study was conducted to assess the efficacy and potency of tranexamic acid in reducing blood loss during and after internal fixation of distal femur fracture.Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in Department of Orthopaedics, GMC Hospital, Jammu from June2019 to December 2020.Total patients [n=40] [100%] were divided into control and test patients with 20 [50%] patients each. Test group [n=20] [ 50%] was administered with tranexamic acid[15mg/kg] for 15 min before and after surgery with IV bolus stat slowly[10ml] whereas control group[n=20] [ 50%] operated without infusion of tranexamic acid. Data was collected with respect to blood loss in all cases[n=40] [100%] and sent for statistical analysis.Results:Tranexamic acid is effectively associated with reduced blood loss during intraoperative period and postoperative period. Tranexamic acid reduces early post-surgical blood loss by 150-250 ml in test group[n=20] vs 290-420 ml in control group [n=20] whereas blood loss during surgery in test group[n=20] is reduced by 450-560 ml vs 720-1000ml in control group[n=20] with significant p value<0.05.Conclusion: Tranexamic acid is highly effective in reducing blood loss when it is administered 15 min before and 15 min after surgery.