The aims of this study were to compare the efficacy and safety
of intra-articular and intravenous (IV) tranexamic acid (TXA) in
controlling perioperative blood loss in total knee arthroplasty
(TKA) using a randomized, double-blinded equivalence trial. A total of 182 patients aged between 45 and 75 years undergoing
unilateral TKA at a tertiary centre were randomized to receive TXA,
either 1.5 g intra-articularly after closure of the wound (n = 91)
or two doses of 10 mg/kg IV (n = 91). The primary outcome measure
was the reduction in the level of haemoglobin (Hb) in the blood
on the fifth postoperative day. Secondary outcome measures were
the total, visible, and hidden blood losses (TBL, VBL, HBL). We
assumed equivalence of the primary outcome in both routes with a
margin of ± 0.35gm/dl. Block randomization using computer-generated
random numbers was used. The patients and the assessor of outcome were
blinded.Aims
Patients and Methods
