Background
Tranexamic Acid (“TXA”) has been proven safe and effective for hip and knee replacement surgery but its use in shoulder replacement is relatively new in Australia.
Tranexamic acid is a drug that helps clot formation in bleeding arteries around the surgical site. It effectively reduces blood loss after a joint replacement. The safety and benefits of the drug have been well documented in major orthopaedic procedures such as hip replacement, knee replacement, trauma and spinal surgery. TXA has repeatedly shown decreased blood loss, reduced need for transfusion, reduced related risk of infection, shortened time spent in recovery and reduced overall hospital stay.
To date only a handful of studies have been published regarding the safety and effectiveness of TXA in shoulder replacement surgery. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to test the hypothesis that the use of TXA during shoulder replacement surgery reduces surgical time and complexity, blood loss and swelling as well as post-operative pain and length of hospital stay.