Effect of frozen tranexamic acid injection on the blood loss after total knee arthroplasty

Abstract:

Objective：To study the effects of using frozen tranexamic acid for intra-articular injection on blood loss after total knee arthroplasty（TKA）. Methods：Totally 45 New Zealand white rabbits unsexed were randomly divided into 3 groups to build the TKA operation model. After operation，a drainage tube was placed in the articular cavity，then the incision was sutured. Different solutions were injected in articular cavity in 3 groups by drainage tubes：in group A，normal ice normal saline 3 ml（0 ℃）；in group B，normal temperature tranexamic acid 3 ml（concentration of 30 mg/ml）；in group C：frozen tranexamic acid 3 ml（concentration of 30 mg/ml，0 ℃）. The drainage tube was clamped for 4 h，then opened to keep continuous vacuum aspiration. The volumes of drained blood at the 24 h and the decreasing of Hb level at the third day after operation were recorded and compared. Results：At the 24 h after operation，the volumes of drained blood in 3 groups were group A（9.61 ± 1.31） ml，group B（6.37±1.25） ml，group C（4.13±0.88） ml. The volumes of drained blood in the group C was fewer than that of in the group A（P=0.000） and group B（P=0.000）. The decreasing ranges of Hb in 3 groups were group A（17.73±4.16） g/L，group B（22.80±3.23） g/L，group C（13.80± 3.82） g/L. The decreasing range of Hb in group C was fewer than that in group A（P=0.000） and group B（P=0.006）. Conclusion：The frozen tranexamic acid can reduce the volumes of drained blood and the decrease Hb more effective than the normal temperature tranexamic acid when it is injected in the rabbit knee joint cavity after TKA.