[Effectiveness of tranexamic acid in total knee arthroplasty].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the safety and effectiveness of using tranexamic acid in total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

METHODS

Between May 2012 and May 2013, 88 patients (88 knees) with degenerative osteoarthritis underwent primary TKA and were divided into 2 groups (n = 44) according to whether use of tranexamic acid (15 mg/kg) or not. Seventy-seven patients (39 in trial group and 38 in control group) were enrolled in this study except 11 patients who failed to be followed up. There was no significant difference in gender, age, disease duration, body mass index, osteoarthritis grading, and preoperative general data of laboratory examination between 2 groups (P > 0.05). The following indexes were recorded and compared between 2 groups: intraoperative tourniquet time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume during 24 hours, total drainage volume, hidden blood loss, total blood loss, the number of transfusion, postoperative haemoglobin (Hb) at 3 days, postoperative D-dimer at 24 hours, ecchymosis, and deep venous thrombosis (DVT).

RESULTS

No statistically significant difference was found in intraoperative tourniquet time and intraoperative blood loss between 2 groups (P > 0.05). The postoperative drainage volume during 24 hours, total drainage volume, hidden blood loss, total blood loss, and postoperative D-dimer at 24 hours in trial group were significantly lower than those in control group (P < 0.05). The postoperative Hb at 3 days in trial group was significantly higher than that in control group (t = 4.815, P = 0.000). Three cases (7.7%) of trial group and 4 cases (10.5%) of control group were given blood transfusion, showing no significant difference (P > 0.05); DVT occurred in 3 cases of 2 groups repectively (7.7%, 7.9%), showing no significant difference (P > 0.05). Extremity ecchymosis occurred in 1 case (2.6%) of trial group and in 7 cases (18.4%) of control group, showing significant difference (χ2 = 0.029, P = ·0.026).

CONCLUSION

Use of tranexamic acid can significantly reduce blood loss and does not increase the risk of DVT after TKA.