The efficacy of intravenous tranexamic acid administration at induction in definitive hip fracture surgery: Is there a role?

•Tranexamic acid use is well established in elective arthroplasty in orthopaedics but few studies have looked at its role in acute hip fractures.•Intraoperative bleeding is increased in hemiarthroplasty surgery compared to extracapsular fracture fixation.•Tranexamic acid at induction in patients undergoing hemiarthroplasty has been shown to reduce transfusion rates in patients aged over 60.•Use of tranexamic acid was not associated with increases in venous thromboembolism, mortality or morbidity after 1 year.•Tranexamic acid should be routinely considered on induction in those undergoing hemiarthroplasty. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is a cheap and powerful drug that has several uses in surgery and is well established in elective orthopaedic surgery. At present, limited small studies have looked into its role in the acute hip fracture. Transfusion in the geriatric population presents risks and increased costs to healthcare systems around the world. Our retrospective study looks at the role of TXA administration at induction for both intracapsular fracture requiring hemiarthroplasty and our preferred method of fixation of extracapsular fracture by intramedullary nail (IM nail). We show a statistically significant reduction in the number of patients requiring transfusion as well as mean haemoglobin (Hb) drop in those undergoing hemiarthroplasty. This was not replicated in those undergoing IM nail fixation. Both groups showed no increase in 1-year mortality or thromboembolic events following TXA administration. These results support the use of TXA for hemiarthroplasty for intracapsular hip fractures over the age of 60. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this pre and post interventional study looks at the effects of intravenous administration of tranexamic acid on induction for elderly patients undergoing hemiarthroplasty or intramedullary nail fixation for hip fractures. DESIGN: Pre and post interventional, randomised observational study SETTING: Large hip fracture unit, Level 2 Trauma Centre, single centre PATIENTS: Two arms of the study looking at those aged above the age of 60 undergoing hemiarthroplasty and intramedullary nail fixation without and with tranexamic acid on induction. RESULTS: 12.1% of hemiarthroplasties required post-operative transfusion without tranexamic acid compared to 2.6% of those with tranexamic acid (n=15 vs n=3 respectively, p=0.006). Equally, the mean Hb drop in g/L is reduced in those with tranexamic acid compared to those without (mean Hb = 14.6