Comparison of Intravenous, Intra-articular, and Combined Tranexamic Acid Use in Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty without a Tourniquet and a Drain

Objective: We assessed the effect of tranexamic acid (TXA) route of administration on the estimated blood loss (EBL) in patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) without tourniquet and drain use. Methods: One hundred fifty three patients who underwent primary TKA with use of TXA, between December 2012 and February 2016 were evaluated retrospectively. The patients were divided into three groups according to the route of TXA use: group I, 2 g of intravenous (IV; n=50); group II, 2 g of intraarticular (IA, n=50); and group III, 1 g of IV and 1 g IA combined use (n=53). We recorded the body mass indexes, the platelet counts, haemoglobin, haematocrit levels, prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, and international normalised ratio, preoperatively and at 1st and 7th days, postoperatively. EBL was calculated using Meunier’s formula. Results: On the first day, the mean EBLs for groups I to III were 286.3±128.8 mL, 342.7±176.0 mL, and 379.7±228.9 mL, respectively (p=0.029 for group I vs. group III). On 7th day postoperatively, they were calculated as 823±619.3 mL, 1175.1±970.5 mL, and 1092.2±766.7 mL (p=0.073) During the first 90 days postoperatively, we did not see any symptomatic thromboembolic complications, delayed haemorrhage, or surgical site or periprosthetic infections. Conclusion: IV, IA or combined uses of TXA are effective and safe for reducing blood loss and transfusion requirements in primary TKA without a tourniquet and drain.