Every month, JBJS publishes a Specialty Update—a review of the most pertinent and impactful studies published in the orthopaedic literature during the previous year in 13 subspecialties. Here is a summary of selected findings from Level I and II studies cited in the September 16, 2015 Specialty Update on hip replacement:
Transfusion and Blood Management
–Studies continue to demonstrate that tranexamic acid decreases the need for transfusion when used either intravenously or topically.
–The routine use of a drain following total hip replacement, even when used for reinfusion of shed blood, provides little to no benefit and does not decrease the risk of transfusion.1
Preoperative Patient Teaching
