Does Postoperative Intravenous Ferric Carboxymaltose Hasten the Recovery of Hemoglobin in Patients Post Total Knee Arthroplasty?

BACKGROUND

Timely and effective iron supplementation may help reduce the incidence of postoperative anemia and its associated problems. In this study, we aim to assess the efficacy of intravenous ferric carboxy maltose (FCM) on improving hemoglobin(Hb) level posttotal knee arthroplasty (TKA).

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 263 patients who had undergone unilateral TKA with 157 patients in the study group (year 2019) and 106 in the control group (year 2016). Patients in the study group received FCM (500 mg IV) on postoperative day 1, whereas patients in the control group did not receive FCM or any other iron supplementation postoperatively. Hb levels were recorded preoperatively (Pr-Hb), postoperatively on day 3 (Day3-Hb) and postoperatively at 5(+1) weeks (Week5-Hb). Statistical analysis was performed using student's paired and unpaired t-tests.

RESULTS

Pr-Hb and Day3-Hb levels were comparable in the control and study group, while Week5-Hb levels were significantly higher (P < .001) in the study group. The drop in Hb at Day3 from preoperative values was comparable between the two groups (P = 1.0). The rise in Hb from Day3 to 5 weeks was significantly higher in the study group as compared to the control group (P < .001). The difference between Pr-Hb and Week5-Hb was significantly lower (P < .001) in the study group compared to the control group. However, Week5-Hb in both groups remained lower than Pr-Hb (P < .001) in all patients.

CONCLUSION

Intravenous FCM (500 mg) was found to be a safe method of iron supplementation to improve hemoglobin levels rapidly and consistently, post-TKA. We need to further study the additive effect of higher dose FCM (1000 mg) on hemoglobin recovery.