Clinical orthopaedics and related research
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Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. · Jan 2013
Low risk of thromboembolic complications with tranexamic acid after primary total hip and knee arthroplasty.
The use of antifibrinolytic medications in hip and knee arthroplasty reduces intraoperative blood loss and decreases transfusion rates postoperatively. Tranexamic acid (TXA) specifically has not been associated with increased thromboembolic (TE) complications, but concerns remain about the risk of symptomatic TE events, particularly when less aggressive chemical prophylaxis methods such as aspirin alone are chosen. ⋯ A low complication rate was seen when using TXA as a blood conservation modality during primary THA and TKA with less aggressive thromboprophylactic regimens such as aspirin alone and dose-adjusted warfarin.
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Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. · Jan 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialThe 2012 Chitranjan Ranawat award: intraarticular analgesia after TKA reduces pain: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, prospective study.
Postoperative pain after total knee arthroplasty remains one of the most important challenges facing patients undergoing this surgery. Providing a balance of adequate analgesia while limiting the functional impact of regional anesthesia and minimizing opioid side effects is critical to minimize adverse events and improve patient satisfaction. ⋯ In patients undergoing TKA, continuous intraarticular analgesia provided an effective adjunct for pain relief in the immediate postoperative period without the disadvantages encountered with other analgesic methods.
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Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. · Jan 2013
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyHigher cefazolin concentrations with intraosseous regional prophylaxis in TKA.
Prophylactic antibiotics reduce the risk of deep infection after primary TKA. However, conventional systemic dosing may not provide adequate tissue concentrations against more resistant organisms such as coagulase-negative staphylococci. Regional intravenous administration of antibiotics after tourniquet inflation achieves far higher tissue concentrations but requires foot vein cannulation. The intraosseous route may offer a rapid and reliable method of regional administration. ⋯ Intraosseous regional administration can achieve concentrations of antibiotic in tissue an order of magnitude higher than systemic administration. Further work is required to determine if this translates into increased efficacy in preventing infection, particularly against coagulase-negative staphylococci.