A Phase 2 interventional study of Transexamic acid and Normal Saline (0.9% NaCl) in Ankle Arthritis and Wound Complication, sponsored by Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Canada. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-22.
Sponsored by Ottawa Hospital Research Institute · Phase 2, Interventional, and Prevention
Patients who undergo total ankle replacement surgery can sometimes develop problems with wound healing after their operation. These complications may include delayed healing, wound opening, or infection, which can lead to additional clinic visits, further surgery, and longer recovery times.
Tranexamic acid (TXA) is a medication that has been used safely for many years in many types of surgery to reduce bleeding. Some studies suggest that it may also improve wound healing after foot and ankle surgery by reducing bleeding and swelling around the surgical site. However, there is not enough high-quality evidence to know whether TXA truly improves outcomes for patients undergoing total ankle replacement.
This study is a pilot clinical trial designed to determine whether a larger study can be successfully carried out. Approximately 40 patients undergoing total ankle replacement surgery at The Ottawa Hospital will be randomly assigned to receive either TXA or a placebo (salt water solution). Neither the patients nor their health care team will know which treatment was given until the study is complete. All patients will receive standard surgical care and follow-up regardless of which group they are assigned to. Researchers will then collect information about wound healing, complications, additional surgeries, and infections at routine follow-up visits for up to six months after surgery.
The outcomes will be compared between patients in each group. The results of this pilot study will help determine whether a larger clinical trial is feasible and may provide early information about whether TXA could improve recovery after total ankle replacement surgery. Ultimately, this research aims to improve patient outcomes and reduce complications following ankle replacement surgery.
This study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial designed to determine the feasibility of conducting a definitive multicentre randomized controlled trial evaluating intravenous and topical tranexamic acid (TXA) for reducing postoperative wound complications following primary total ankle replacement (TAR). The trial will also collect preliminary safety and clinical outcome data to estimate the potential effect of TXA on postoperative wound complications.
Patients with ankle arthritis scheduled to undergo primary TAR will be screened for eligibility and enrolled after providing informed consent. Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either intravenous and topical TXA or placebo (normal saline) administered according to the study protocol. Participants, treating surgeons, clinical staff, outcome assessors, and investigators will remain blinded to treatment allocation throughout the study.
All participants will undergo standard perioperative management and postoperative care as determined by their treating surgeon. Follow-up assessments will occur according to the routine postoperative schedule through six months after surgery. Data collected will include participant demographics, medical history, operative characteristics, study drug compliance, adverse events, and clinical outcomes.
The primary objective of this pilot trial is to determine the feasibility of conducting a definitive multicentre randomized controlled trial. Feasibility outcomes include participant recruitment, protocol adherence, treatment compliance, retention, completeness of follow-up, and completeness of outcome data collection.
Secondary objectives are to obtain preliminary estimates of the effect of intravenous TXA on postoperative wound complications and other clinically relevant outcomes, including surgical site infection, reoperation, blood transfusion, thromboembolic events, hospital readmission, and patient-reported outcome measures. Safety outcomes, including adverse events and serious adverse events, will also be monitored throughout the study.
The results of this pilot study will inform the design and implementation of a future adequately powered multicentre randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of intravenous TXA in improving outcomes following total ankle replacement.
270 studies on the registry are indexed under Wound Infection; 33 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 40 is below the median of 141 across 228 interventional studies indexed under Wound Infection.
Browse Wound Infection studies →Ottawa Hospital Research Institute is the lead sponsor of 547 studies on the registry; 99 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Acquired color vision problems that are not genetics
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraindication
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraception
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Patients will receive 1.5g of TXA in 100ml normal saline (NS) solution intravenously within our hour prior to skin incision, and prior to tourniquet inflation. A second dose of 3g in 100ml NS of tranexamic acid will be given topically through a soaked sponge after implant placement and prior to closure. This will be left in place for five minutes.
Drug: Transexamic acid
Patients will receive either 100ml normal saline (NS) solution intravenously within our hour prior to skin incision, and prior to tourniquet inflation. Then, a 100ml normal saline solution will be given topically through a soaked sponge after implant placement and prior to closure. This will be left in place for five minutes.
Drug: Normal Saline (0.9% NaCl)
Patients in the intervention group will receive 1.5g of TXA in 100ml normal saline (NS) solution. A second dose of 3g in 100ml NS of tranexamic acid will be given topically through a soaked sponge.
Patients in the placebo group will receive 100ml normal saline (NS) solution intravenously. A second dose of 100ml normal saline will be given topically through a soaked sponge.
Percentage of eligible participant enrollment within 12 months
The primary feasibility outcome measure of the pilot trial is the overall recruitment rate based on the total recruitment over 12 months.
Time frame: 12 months
Percentage of enrolled participants who adhere to the study treatment within the trial.
A secondary feasibility outcome of the pilot trial is treatment fidelity, defined by adherence to study drug assignment and pilot trial protocol over 6 months of study involvement.
Time frame: 6 months
Percentage of enrolled participants who complete the study's follow-up window
A secondary feasibility outcome of the pilot trial is retention rate, defined by participant completion of the pilot trial protocol over 6 months follow-up.
Time frame: 6 months
Percentage of consented participants among eligible participants who were approached
A secondary feasibility outcomes of the pilot trial include is consent rates for eligible participants who are approached over 12 months, including reasons for non-consent.
Time frame: 12 months
Logistical trial implementation barriers that might affect the full trial implementation
A secondary feasibility outcome of the pilot trial is trial implementation barriers. These include data capture and study management barriers, study team infrastructure challenges, participant- and site-level challenges, intervention-related challenges, and longitudinal study design challenges. Outcomes categorized as not requiring major protocol changes, minor amendable protocol changes, or significant design/safety concerns.
Time frame: 12 months
Percentage of wound complications assessed by the Foot and Ankle Postoperative Wound Classification scheme from 0 (no complication) to 7 (worse complication).
A secondary clinical outcome measure, to be studied further in the definitive trial, is wound complications. Wounds will be assessed at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. Each wound will be given a grade from zero to seven, as defined by the Foot and Ankle Postoperative Wound Classification scheme by Schipper et al. Zero indicates no complication and seven indicates the most sever complications. Wounds will be graded by two different assessors.
Time frame: 6 months
Percentage of re-operations following the initial total ankle arthroplasty
A secondary clinical outcome measure, to be studied further in the definitive trial, is re-operation rate. Relevant re-operations included will be for any subsequent surgery related to the TAR procedure, including wound-related debridement, prosthetic revision surgery (including any component revision) and others. Re-operations within 6 months of primary surgery will be included.
Time frame: 6 months
Percentage of participants with Prosthetic Joint Infection assessed by culture swab and treated with antibiotics
A secondary clinical outcome measure, to be studied further in the definitive trial, is prosthetic joint infections. Prosthetic joint infection will be defined as any infection that is confirmed by culture swab and treated with antibiotics. Infections will be subdivided into superficial infections (swab positive superficial to fascia) and deep infections (swab positive in direct contact with the prosthesis). Infections will be included up to 6 months from primary surgery.
Time frame: 6 months
Percentage of participants with post-operative Venous Thromboembolism confirmed either via ultrasound or CT
VA secondary clinical outcome measure, to be studied further in the definitive trial, is venous thromboembolism (VTE) events. VTE events will be captured based on confirmation on investigation with either lower extremity doppler ultrasound for lower extremity deep vein thrombosis, or chest helical CT or ventilation/perfusion scan for investigation for pulmonary embolism. Events will be included within 6 months of primary surgery.
Time frame: 6 months
Plan to share: No
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From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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