Prospective Investigation of Intra-Articular Tranexamic Acid Use in Elective Hip Arthroplasty

September 14, 2026 updated by: St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Czech Republic

Utilisation of Tranexamic Acid in Elective Hip Arthroplasty

Tranexamic acid (trans-4-aminomethyl cyclohexane carboxylic acid) is an antifibrinolytic substance that chemically belongs to the group of e-carboxylic acids. TXA is a synthetic amino acid derivative of lysine that competitively inhibits the activation of plasminogen to the serine protease, plasmin. TXA is a competitive inhibitor of tissue plasminogen activator, blocking the lysine-binding sites of plasminogen, resulting in inhibition of plasminogen activation and fibrin binding to plasminogen and therefore impairment of fibrinolysis.

Due to its antifibrinolytic effect (reduction of bleeding), TXA has been recently an increasing interest in orthopaedics, especially in elective major joint replacements.

The total hip arthroplasties (ΤΗΑ) are associated with perioperative blood losses exceeding 500 mL. Blood loss volumes are dependent on the chosen surgical approach and technique. Some patients that undergo elective hip replacement receive at least one blood unit in postoperative care. Heterotopic ossification is also a common complication after THA, presented as bone in soft tissue where bone normally does not appear. TXA reduces postoperative blood losses and consequently leads to less frequent blood transfusions. This has an impact on the economic burden for the health care system. Increased blood loss could lead to longer length of stay at the hospital and the connected economic consequences. TXA further reduces the incidence of heterotopic ossification after elective THA.

Objectives:

The aim of this study is to prospectively evaluate postoperative blood losses, hemoglobin decline and associated blood transfusion, heterotopic ossification and other parameters in patients with intraarticular application of Tranexamic acid during THA.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This prospective, parallel-group clinical study was conducted at the First Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, St. Anne's University Hospital and the Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic. Patient recruitment and prospective data collection were performed from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2025.

The study was designed to evaluate whether the addition of intra-articular tranexamic acid (TXA) to standard intravenous TXA administration improves perioperative blood-management outcomes in patients undergoing elective primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). Eligible patients undergoing elective THA were allocated before surgery to one of two parallel treatment groups. Patients undergoing arthroplasty for traumatic indications were excluded.

All procedures were performed under spinal anesthesia using an anterolateral Watson-Jones approach. All patients received 1 g of intravenous TXA before skin incision. In the intravenous-only group, no additional local TXA was administered. In the combined-treatment group, patients received an additional 2 g of TXA diluted in 10 mL of saline, applied intra-articularly around the implanted prosthesis after definitive component implantation, completion of surgical haemostasis, and drying of the operative field, immediately before closure of the fascia lata.

Standardized perioperative management was used in both groups. Meticulous electrocautery haemostasis was performed, and a single Redon suction drain was placed in the operated hip and removed 24 hours after surgery. Patients received perioperative thromboprophylaxis with low-molecular-weight heparin according to the institutional protocol.

The principal objective of the study was to assess the effect of additional intra-articular TXA on perioperative blood loss and transfusion requirements. Perioperative outcomes included postoperative drainage volume, changes in haemoglobin concentration, red blood cell transfusion requirements, and length of hospital stay. Haemoglobin concentration was recorded preoperatively, on the day of surgery, and on postoperative day 1. Changes in haemoglobin concentration were evaluated from the preoperative value to the day of surgery and from the preoperative value to postoperative day 1. Red blood cell transfusion requirements were assessed both as the proportion of patients requiring transfusion and according to the number of transfused units.

Postoperative wound-related and medical complications were also prospectively evaluated. These included persistent wound leakage, requirement for single-use negative-pressure wound therapy, debridement with antibiotics and implant retention (DAIR), implant explantation, and clinically diagnosed thromboembolic complications. Surgical wounds were routinely assessed during the postoperative period, and persistent or progressive wound complications were treated according to the institutional protocol.

The study was intended to determine whether combined intravenous and intra-articular administration of TXA provides additional haemostatic benefit compared with intravenous TXA alone while maintaining an acceptable postoperative safety profile in patients undergoing elective primary THA.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
1000

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Czechia
    • Czechia
      • Brno, Czechia, Czechia, 62700
        • First Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, St. Anne's University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients undergoing elective hip replacement in the First Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, St. Anne's University Hospital, Brno, Czechia from 2023 to 2026.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Elective hip replacement

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Traumatic hip replacement indication

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Intervention Group - COMB
Combined intravenous and intra-articular TXA
Drug: Intra-articular Tranexamic acid application
Intra-articular Tranexamic acid application during THA and evaluation of postoperative blood losses, hemoglobin decline and associated blood transfusion, heterotopic ossification and other parameters.
Control Group - IV group
Treatment allocation to intravenous TXA alone

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Postoperative Blood Loss
Time Frame: 48 hours postoperatively
Total measured blood loss (in mL) within the first 24 to 48 hours after total hip arthroplasty (THA), calculated from surgical drains and hemoglobin change.
48 hours postoperatively

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Incidence of Heterotopic Ossification
Time Frame: 1 year postoperatively
Number of patients developing heterotopic ossification, assessed using radiographs at 6 weeks and 3 months postoperatively.
1 year postoperatively
Incidence of Postoperative Complications
Time Frame: Up to 30 days postoperatively
Number of patients experiencing complications such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), wound infections, and other adverse events.
Up to 30 days postoperatively
Hemoglobin Change
Time Frame: Baseline, 24 hours, and 48 hours postoperatively
Change in hemoglobin levels (g/dL) from preoperative baseline to 24 and 48 hours postoperatively. Change from baseline.
Baseline, 24 hours, and 48 hours postoperatively

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Czech Republic

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
January 1, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 31, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
March 24, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 24, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
March 30, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 17, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 14, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 83V/2022 - AM

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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