1.
Administration of Tranexamic Acid to Reduce Intra-articular Hemarthrosis in ACL Reconstruction: A Systematic Review
Na Y, Jia Y, Shi Y, Liu W, Han C, Hua Y
Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine. 2022;10(1):23259671211061726
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although tranexamic acid (TXA) has been shown to reduce bleeding in joint replacement procedures, its effectiveness for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) has not been widely reported. PURPOSE To evaluate the effectiveness of TXA to reduce postoperative hemarthrosis and improve clinical outcomes after ACLR. STUDY DESIGN Systematic review; Level of evidence, 2. METHODS A systematic review of the literature following the PRISMA guidelines (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) was performed; literature retrieval was carried out using the MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library electronic databases. The inclusion criteria were comparative studies in English that reported the administration of intravenous or intra-articular TXA versus other modalities or placebo in patients undergoing ACLR. RESULTS Six studies comprising 418 patients who were treated with TXA were included. Heterogeneity among studies did not allow for the pooling of data. Five studies showed decreased drainage volume in the first 24 or 48 hours postoperatively as compared with control (ACLR with no TXA). Four studies showed lower hemarthrosis grades and visual analog scale scores in TXA versus control in the early postoperative period, although this difference was not evident at 4 weeks postoperatively. No studies showed differences in infection, deep venous thrombosis, or adverse events between the TXA and control groups. CONCLUSION The current best available evidence suggests that TXA administration at the time of ACLR results in decreased intra-articular bleeding (measured using a drainage system), hemarthrosis grade, and pain when compared with control.
2.
Comparison of intravenous, topical or combined routes of tranexamic acid administration in patients undergoing total knee and hip arthroplasty: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
Sun Q, Li J, Chen J, Zheng C, Liu C, Jia Y
BMJ open. 2019;9(1):e024350
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to compare the effects of intravenous, topical and combined routes of tranexamic acid (TXA) administration on blood loss and transfusion requirements in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA). DESIGN This was a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCT) wherein the weighted mean difference (WMD) and relative risk (RR) were used for data synthesis applied in the random effects model. Stratified analyses based on the surgery type, region, intravenous and topical TXA dose and transfusion protocol were also conducted. The main outcomes included intraoperative and total blood loss volume, transfusion rate, low postoperative haemoglobin (Hb) level and postoperative Hb decline. However, the secondary outcomes included length of hospital stay (LOS) and/or occurrence of venous thromboembolism (VTE). SETTING We searched the PubMed, Embase and Cochrane CENTRAL databases for RCTs that compared different routes of TXA administration. PARTICIPANTS Patients undergoing TKA or THA. INTERVENTIONS Intravenous, topical or combined intravenous and topical TXA. RESULTS Twenty-six RCTs were selected, and the intravenous route did not differ substantially from the topical route with respect to the total blood loss volume (WMD=30.92, p=0.31), drain blood loss (WMD=-34.53, p=0.50), postoperative Hb levels (WMD=-0.01, p=0.96), Hb decline (WMD=-0.39, p=0.08), LOS (WMD=0.15, p=0.38), transfusion rate (RR=1.08, p=0.75) and VTE occurrence (RR=1.89, p=0.15). Compared with the combined-delivery group, the single-route group had significantly increased total blood loss volume (WMD=198.07, p<0.05), greater Hb decline (WMD=0.56, p<0.05) and higher transfusion rates (RR=2.51, p<0.05). However, no significant difference was noted in the drain blood loss, postoperative Hb levels and VTE events between the two groups. The intravenous and topical routes had comparable efficacy and safety profiles. CONCLUSIONS The combination of intravenous and topical TXA was relatively more effective in controlling bleeding without increased risk of VTE.
3.
What is the optimal approach for tranexamic acid application in patients with unilateral total hip arthroplasty?
Zhang Y, Zhang L, Ma X, Jia Y, Wang H, Zhu Y, Liu Y
Der Orthopade. 2016;45((7):):616-21
Abstract
PURPOSE In the total hip arthroplasty (THA), the optimal administration route of tranexamic acid (TXA) remains controversial. This study was designed to investigate the impact of topical injection of TXA on blood loss during primary unilateral THA as well as short-term safety and adverse side effects compared with intravenous administration of TXA. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this study, 75 patients who underwent unilateral THA were randomly divided into 3 groups receiving intra-articular TXA (IA group), intravenous TXA (IV group) or no TXA (control group C). Blood loss, postoperative drainage, covert blood loss, total blood volume, the number of blood transfusions after surgery and transfusion rate, incidence of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism were recorded and evaluated in the three groups after 1 week and 1 month. RESULTS There were significant differences in the quantity of postoperative drainage, covert blood loss, total blood volume, the number of blood transfusions after surgery and transfusion rates between the three groups (P < 0.05), but blood loss during surgery showed no significant differences among the three groups (P > 0.05). In the IV group, 1 patient suffered from deep venous thrombosis of the lower limbs and in the C group, 2 patients suffered from superficial venous thrombosis of the lower limbs 2 and 4 days after surgery, respectively. In the IA group no complications occurred during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION Preoperative intravenous TXA and postoperative topical TXA significantly reduced postoperative blood loss and transfusion rates among the patients who underwent primary unilateral THA and the short-term safety was good. The data suggest that topical injection of TXA is safer and more effective, without postoperative complications.