Effectiveness of different doses and routes of administration of tranexamic acid for total hip replacement

Purpose: The aim of the study is to show the therapeutic efficacy, safety, and cost-benefit of using tranexamic acid (TXA), as well as the superiority of the route of administration and amount of dose in primary cementless total hip replacement (THR).

Methods: In this prospective, randomized, double-blind study, we divided 200 patients into five groups of 40 patients each. The placebo group did not receive TXA. Three groups received 2 g TXA each (intravenous, topical, and combined intravenous + topical), while the fifth, combined + group, received 4 g TXA. Total blood loss was calculated, number of transfusions and thromboembolic vascular incidents were monitored, and a cost-benefit analysis of the use of TXA was performed.

Results: Regardless of the route of administration, TXA statistically significantly reduced total blood loss (p = 0.000) and the need for transfusion (p = 0.000) compared with placebo. Total blood loss and the need for allogenic blood transfusion were statistically significantly reduced in the combined + group compared with placebo, and also compared with all other groups. Post-operative thromboembolic vascular incidents were not reported. The cost-benefit of using TXA in THR is associated with reduction of transfusion costs.

Conclusions: None of the TXA administration routes are superior to others, but multiple doses could statistically significantly reduce blood loss and transfusion requirements, which should be the subject of future researches.