The study was presented at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons annual meeting in San Diego. Researchers examined 92 patients undergoing AIS surgery with spinal fusions, 44 of whom received the low dose of TA. Thirty-four of the control group patients and zero patients who received TA had iliac crest bone graft fusion.
The TA is also associated with reduced blood loss because it blocks lysine-binding sites on plasminogen and plasmin to keep them from binding to the fibrin surface. The study showed a 44 percent decrease in intraoperative blood loss in the TA group.
“Tranexamic acid appears safe for use in idiopathic scoliosis; no direct complication attributable to TA was identified,” Dr. Zebala said in the report. “However, decreases in both intraoperative blood loss and overall blood loss need to be considered in light of the retrospective nature of this study and its inherent limitations.”
Read the Medscape Medical News report on using TA during scoliosis correction surgery.
Read other coverage on spine surgery:
– Spine Surgery Research: 3 Areas of Focus
– Spine Surgery Research Update: Lumbar Spine Treatment
– Minnesota Spine Surgeon Performs XLIF
