Combined use of intravenous and topical tranexamic acid following cementless total hip arthroplasty: a randomised clinical trial

Abstract

Purpose: This study was designed to compare the efficacy and safety of the combined use of tranexamic acid (TXA) with the intravenous (IV) or local use alone in total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Methods: 210 patients were randomised to a IV group, a local group or a combined group. Participants received 1.5 g IV-TXA in the IV group, 3 g local TXA in the local group, or 1 g IV-TXA combined with 2 g local TXA in the combined group. The primary outcomes were total blood loss (TBL), maximum haemoglobin drop, and the incidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE).

Results: TBL was (776.75 ± 188.95) ml in the combined group, which was significantly lower than in the IV group or the local group (p = 0.015, p = 0.001 respectively). Likewise, the mean values of maximum hemoglobin drop in the combined, IV, and local groups were 2.98 ± 0.78, 3.36 ± 0.78, and 3.89 ± 0.72 g/dL, respectively, with a significant intergroup difference (p<0.001 for all). Asymptomatic DVT was detected in 1 patient of the IV group, and 2 patients of the combined group with the use of ultrasound. There were no episodes of PE, and no significant differences were seen between groups in terms of complications.

Conclusions: Combined use of intravenous TXA and local TXA in primary unilateral THA can effectively decrease total blood loss and increase postoperative haemoglobin levels without influencing complication rates. It is suggested that this combined TXA regimen is more effective in decreasing blood loss in cementeless THA than intravenous or local administration alone.