Background
Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is associated with postoperative blood loss. Tranexamic acid (TXA) administration is an effective strategy used to reduce the blood loss.
Patients and methods
This was a randomized controlled clinical trial adopted to fulfill the purpose of this study. The study was conducted at Benha Health Insurance Hospital and Benha University Hospitals. It was conducted on 42 adult patients who underwent an elective primary unilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) through midline incision with medial parapatellar approach after tourniquet application. Patients were categorized into two groups: control group (without TXA), and intra-articular (IA) group who received 1.5 gm of TXA in 10 ml of normal saline injected into the joint after packing, lavage, hemostasis and closure of the muscle layer just before the deflation of the tourniquet to guarantee maintenance of the injected fluid inside the joint. Demographic data and age, sex, comorbidities, and preoperative hemoglobin levels were collected. The maximum hemoglobin decline was the primary outcome, while the drain’s blood amount (cc/day), the rate of blood transfusion, and the duration of hospital stay were secondary outcomes.
Results
Patients who received Intra-articular TXA had statistically significant lower drop in hemoglobin level (0.99 + 0.45 mg/dl) compared to their control group (2.14 + 1.07 mg/dl) (P<0.001).
Conclusion
TXA is a safe and efficient way to reduce overall blood loss in TKA patients, according to data from this study and the literature. Administration intraarticular seems to be significantly effective in reducing postoperative blood loss without increasing the risk of thrombotic events.