The Use of Tranexamic Acid for Primary Prophylaxis of Heterotopic Ossification Following Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Introduction: Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a relatively common complication after total hip arthroplasty (THA) and can range from a radiographic observation only to severely disabling and requiring revision surgery. Prophylaxis is recommended for high-risk patients, though the ideal method and targeted population are open to debate. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is a medication increasingly being used to reduce blood loss associated with orthopaedic surgeries, including THA.

Methods: A retrospective review of 357 patients undergoing THA from November 2020 through December 2023 was conducted. The patients were grouped based on whether they received intravenous TXA perioperatively or not, and their propensity score matched 2:1 TXA to no TXA on age, body mass index, sex, the Charlson Comorbidity Index, and perioperative celecoxib use. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.

Results: After propensity score matching, the only significant differences between groups were American Society of Anesthesiologists scores and preoperative celecoxib use between groups, as the TXA group had fewer patients who had an ASA of 3 or more (38.9 versus 58.5%, P < 0.001) and more patients who had taken celecoxib preoperatively (16.3 versus 5.9%, P = 0.010). Perioperatively, patients were more likely to undergo THA using the anterior approach (74.5 versus 57.6%, P = 0.002) and were more likely to receive postoperative celecoxib prescriptions (44.8 versus 31.4%, P = 0.021), but there was no difference in other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug usage postoperatively. Postoperatively, patients who received TXA had a lower rate of heterotopic ossification on the last postoperative x-ray (20.1 versus 33.9%, P = 0.007). Multivariable logistic regression, to assess predictors of HO, found that patients who had TXA were 42% less likely to have visible HO (OR [odds ratio] = 0.58, P = 0.047) while holding surgical approach, ASA score, preoperative and postoperative celecoxib use, and postoperative other NSAID use constant.

Conclusion: The use of tranexamic acid in patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty results in a decreased likelihood of heterotopic ossification formation on postoperative x-rays.