This clinical study aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of administering a single intravenous dose of tranexamic acid (TXA) before surgery to reduce blood loss in patients undergoing open intramedullary nailing for femoral shaft fractures. In many resource-limited settings, including Uganda, this surgical approach is common due to lack of fluoroscopic equipment, and it is known to be associated with significant perioperative blood loss. Tranexamic acid is an antifibrinolytic agent that helps stabilize blood clots and is widely used to reduce bleeding in major surgeries such as joint replacements and spinal procedures. However, its role in trauma-related open femoral surgeries in low-resource settings remains underexplored. This study investigates whether preoperative intravenous TXA can safely reduce blood loss and transfusion needs during and after surgery in patients with isolated femoral shaft fractures managed at Mulago National Referral Hospital.
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Change in Hemoglobin Concentration from Preoperative to 72 Hours Postoperative
Timeframe: From 2 hours before surgery to 72 hours after surgery