Redefining Recovery: Multimodal Analgesics and Tranexamic Acid in Orthopedic Surgery

Authors

Elijah Hoffman, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow

Abstract

Introduction As the demand for joint replacements continues to rise, optimizing patient outcomes and enhancing recovery have become paramount goals for orthopedic surgeons. Patients used to have minimal mobility following a Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) or Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) due to pain or the effects of sedation from anesthesia. This would lead to longer hospital stays, more complications, and higher opioid use.¹ These surgeries also resulted in levels of blood loss that required transfusion therapy postoperatively.² In recent years, there has been a paradigm shift in postoperative care for total joint arthroplasty (TJA), marked by significant advancements in the use of multimodal analgesics and tranexamic acid (TXA). The integration of multimodal analgesic approaches, combining various analgesic agents and techniques, has shown promise in effectively managing postoperative pain while minimizing opioid consumption.³ Concurrently, the administration of TXA, an antifibrinolytic agent, has gained widespread recognition for its role in reducing blood loss and transfusion requirements in TJA procedures.⁴

Recommended Citation

Hoffman, Elijah (2024) "Redefining Recovery: Multimodal Analgesics and Tranexamic Acid in Orthopedic Surgery," Bone Bulletin: Vol. 2: Iss. 1, Article 12.
Available at: https://jdc.jefferson.edu/bone_bulletin/vol2/iss1/12