Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2021, Vol. 25 ›› Issue (6): 948-956.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.4003

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Intravenous, topical tranexamic acid alone or their combination in total knee arthroplasty: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Huang Dengcheng1, Wang Zhike1, Cao Xuewei2   

  1. 1Second Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong Province, China; 2Third Department of Orthopedics, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong Province, China
  • Received:2020-04-03 Revised:2020-04-14 Accepted:2020-05-09 Online:2021-02-28 Published:2020-12-05
  • Contact: Cao Xuewei, MD, Chief physician, Third Department of Orthopedics, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong Province, China
  • About author:Huang Dengcheng, Master candidate, Second Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong Province, China
  • Supported by:
    the Special Project in Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 2017KT1334

Abstract: OBJECTIVE:The optimal route of administration of tranexamic acid remains controversial in total knee arthroplasty. This study performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of combined administration of intravenous and topical tranexamic acid. 
METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Medline, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library database until May 2019 to identify randomized controlled trials of comparing intravenous or topical administration of tranexamic acid and their combination. The search terms include “total knee arthroplasty, total knee replacement, TKA, TKR, tranexamic acid, TXA”. Cochrane bias risk assessment tool was used to evaluate literature quality. Data were analyzed using RevMan 5.3 software. The main outcome measures were total blood loss, drainage volume, maximum drop of hemoglobin, and postoperative hemoglobin level. The secondary outcome measures were the transfusion rate, the incidence of deep vein thrombosis and the incidence of pulmonary embolism.
RESULTS: (1) A total of 9 randomized controlled trials involving 1 220 patients were included in the meta-analysis. (2) Meta-analysis results suggested that compared with intravenous administration group, total blood loss (MD=-213.15, 95%CI:-241.23 to -185.08, P < 0.000 01), drainage volume (MD=-40.00, 95%CI:-62.34 to -17.65, P=0.000 5], maximum drop of hemoglobin (MD=-0.65, 95%CI:-1.01 to -0.30, P=0.002), and postoperative hemoglobin level (MD=0.86, 95%CI:0.48-1.24, P < 0.000 1) were better than in the combined group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the transfusion rate, the incidence of deep vein thrombosis and the incidence of pulmonary embolism (P > 0.05). (3) Compared with the topical administration group, total blood loss (MD=-94.24, 95%CI:-123.83 to -64.66, P < 0.000 01), maximum drop of hemoglobin (MD=-0.64, 95%CI:-0.93 to -0.35, P < 0.000 1) and transfusion rate (OR=0.31, 95%CI:0.13-0.74, P=0.009) were better in the combined group. No significant difference was found in drainage volume, the incidence of deep vein thrombosis and the incidence of pulmonary embolism between the two groups (P > 0.05).  
CONCLUSION: The combined intravenous and topical tranexamic acid can further reduce surgical blood loss, hemoglobin drop and drainage, and will not lead to an increase in the incidence of adverse events such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. The combined use of tranexamic acid is more effective and safer when comparing with topical or intravenous tranexamic acid alone.

Key words: bone, knee, knee joint, tranexamic acid combination, randomized control, venous embolization, meta-analysis

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