The Role of Tranexamic Acid in Total Ankle Arthroplasty

摘要: Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 42 consecutive patients who underwent an uncemented TAA between August of 2013 and August of 2015. A power analysis using preliminary data determined 15 patients in each group were needed to detect a 50% reduction in drain output at a power of 80% and p value of 0.05. We evaluated the first 21 consecutive patients after TXA was being utilized (TXA-TAA), and the 21 consecutive patients who underwent TAA just before TXA was being used (NoTXA-TAA). The mean age was 67±11 years old in the TXA-TAA group and 66±7 in the NoTXA-TAA group (p= 0.69). Mean BMI was of 32±6 in the TXA-TAA group and 31±6 in the NoTXA-TAA group (p= 0.53). Charts were reviewed for demographics, preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin, postoperative drain output, length of stay, postoperative pain visual analog score (VAS), and postoperative complications including superficial and deep wound infections. The TXA-TAA group received a standard one-gram dose of intravenous TXA fifteen minutes prior to tourniquet inflation. A postoperative surgical drain was placed in the ankle joint in all patients, and subsequently discontinued on postoperative day one. Total drain output was recorded in all patients. The change between the preoperative and lowest postoperative hemoglobin was calculated for each patient. VAS scores (scale 1-10) were obtained prior to physical therapy with one being the least amount of pain and 10 being the worst pain. Patients were only excluded if they were on a preoperative anticoagulation agent. Statistical analysis was performed using unpaired student T-tests …