Tranexamic Acid in Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery

Posterior spinal surgery for adult deformity is associated with high incidence of blood loss and need for blood transfusion and intraoperative blood salvage, with associated increased cost and risk for perioperative complications. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is relatively inexpensive anti-fibrinolytic agent that has been proven effective for decreasing intraoperative blood loss in various surgical specialties. Intravenous TXA (ivTXA) is routinely used at our institution for adult spinal deformity cases. Meanwhile, topical TXA (tTXA) is an attractive alternative/adjunct to ivTXA used with good results in orthopedic arthroplasty and cardiac surgery. To the investigators' knowledge, no data exists in the literature on the use of tTXA in either adult or pediatric spinal deformity surgery. The goal of this study is to determine the role tTXA has an adjunct to ivTXA in decreasing perioperative blood loss, drainage, transfusion requirements and length of stay following adult deformity spine surgery.