TABLO (Tranexamic Acid to reduce Blood Loss after varus derotation Osteotomy) is a clinical trial of postoperative tranexamic acid vs placebo in non-ambulatory children with cerebral palsy (CP) undergoing reconstructive hip surgery.

Improving surgical outcomes is a high priority in this patient population given the high risk of bleeding and the diminished capacity for these children to withstand substantial blood loss. Preliminary data from the study institution indicates that approximately one third of these patients receive transfusion of blood products in the postoperative period. There is growing evidence that hidden blood loss occurring in the postoperative period is substantial and can potentially be attenuated with the administration of Tranexamic Acid (TXA). However, trials on postoperative TXA have been carried out exclusively in adult surgical populations.

TABLO (Tranexamic Acid to reduce Blood Loss after varus derotation Osteotomy) is a parallel-group randomised placebo-controlled trial of postoperative tranexamic acid vs placebo in children with CP undergoing bilateral varus derotational osteotomy (VDRO) surgery. The allocation ratio is 1:1 (placebo: intervention), and the trial will be powered to detect a difference in postoperative blood loss calculated using a haemoglobin mass loss formula. Improving perioperative outcomes is a high priority in this patient population given the high risk of bleeding from this surgical intervention and the reduced physiological reserve in these children. Preliminary data from the study institution indicates that approximately one third of these patients receive transfusion of blood products in the postoperative period. There is growing evidence that hidden blood loss occurring in the postoperative period is substantial and can potentially be attenuated with the administration of Tranexamic Acid (TXA). However, trials on postoperative TXA have been carried out exclusively in adult surgical populations. This is an embedded superiority randomised placebo-controlled patient-/treating team-/assessor-blinded trial comparing tranexamic acid with placebo in reducing blood loss following bilateral bony hip reconstructive surgery in non-ambulatory children with cerebral palsy. Primary objective: to evaluate the impact of postoperative continuous intravenous TXA infusion, compared with placebo in the form of normal saline, on blood loss in non-ambulatory children with cerebral palsy undergoing bilateral VDRO surgery with or without pelvic osteotomy. Secondary objectives: to investigate the safety and tolerability of postoperative tranexamic acid in children with CP undergoing bilateral VDRO surgery with or without pelvic osteotomy, and to evaluate the health economic impact of postoperative tranexamic acid in children with cerebral palsy undergoing bilateral VDRO surgery with or without pelvic osteotomy. To the best of the study team's knowledge this will be the first randomised controlled trial to investigate postoperative intravenous TXA in a paediatric surgical population. Trial population: Non-ambulant children with cerebral palsy undergoing bilateral VDRO surgery with or without pelvic osteotomy. Planned sample size is 52 participants (26 in each group: placebo and intervention). Study setting: Single site electronic medical record (EMR) embedded trial in the software platform EpicTM at The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH). Trial intervention: after cessation of the intraoperative tranexamic acid infusion, and once the patient has been transferred to the recovery bay, the postoperative infusion will commence comprising 10mg/kg/hr intravenous TXA for 24 hours. Placebo: equivalent volume of visually identical normal saline will be infused at the same rate as the TXA. Recruitment: It is anticipated that recruitment will commence in June 2026 and cease August 2028, with the last participant completing 6-month follow up period by April 2029. Participant duration: It is anticipated that duration of participation will be approximately four to six months. The time between initial identification as potentially eligible to date of surgery is three months maximum, length of stay is approximately seven days, and post-operative follow-up is 6 months.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children (aged 4 to 16 years)
• Diagnosis of cerebral palsy (CP). CP is an umbrella term under which many specific diagnoses are captured, and the clinical team at the study institution operates a comprehensive referral network to ensure patients with any relevant diagnoses are included.
• Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels IV and V, with substantial hip displacement (>40% migration percentage per Australian Hip Surveillance Guidelines (Wynter M, Gibson N, Kentish M, Love S, Thomason P, Willoughby K, et al. Australian hip surveillance guidelines for children with cerebral palsy 2014. Australian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine. 2014.)), who are on the waitlist for bilateral proximal femoral varus derotational osteotomy (VDRO) +/- unilateral or bilateral pelvic osteotomy.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Haematological disorder (defined as an active genetic or acquired bleeding disorder)
• Known hypersensitivity to tranexamic acid (TXA)
• Children with promyelocytic leukaemia being treated with oral tretinoin will be excluded from the trial because combination with TXA has resulted in fatal thrombotic complications
• Known coagulation defect
• Known renal disorder (moderate to severe as per study institution guidelines)

The anonymised data set collected for the analysis of this trial will be made available 12 months following analysis and publication of the primary outcome.

This includes data collected for the primary outcome and each secondary outcome.

The anonymised data set collected for the analysis of this trial will be made available 12 months following analysis and publication of the primary outcome.

The source data for patients is collected routinely in the EMR. As this is routinely collected in clinical care, this won't be destroyed after the minimum retention periods. Data files created for the study, i.e. quality of life questionnaires, may be destroyed after 15 years post-trial completion or until child aged 25 years (whichever is the later).

The trial recognises the value of open data sharing and adherence to data sharing principles that align with applicable laws, regulations, and ethical guidelines. Therefore, anonymised data from this clinical trial will be made available via a controlled access data sharing mechanism. Interested researchers may request access to the data by submitting a formal data sharing request to the Sponsor. The request will be reviewed by the Sponsor and the Sponsor-Investigator, and any relevant Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) data sharing committee, considering factors such as scientific merit, data security, and adherence to the approved research objectives.

The data may be obtained from the Murdoch Children's Research Institute by emailing MCTC@mcri.edu.au.

Only the research pharmacists dispensing the investigational product or placebo will be aware of treatment allocation. The surgeons, anaesthetists, nursing staff, investigators, participants, and outcome assessors will not be aware of treatment allocation.