Extended oral tranexamic acid may improve outcomes after TKA
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Key takeaways:
- Extended tranexamic acid was associated with improved pain scores, flexion and ambulation vs. placebo.
- Researchers found no differences in hemoglobin levels or adverse events between the two groups.
GRAPEVINE, Texas — Extended use of oral tranexamic acid may improve early motion, pain and functional scores after total knee arthroplasty, according to results presented here.
“When compared to placebo, the extended use of oral tranexamic acid safely resulted in improved early motion, pain and functional scores for total knee arthroplasty patients,” Marcus C. Ford, MD, said about a paper that received the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons Clinical Research Award at the AAHKS Annual Meeting.
Ford and colleagues randomly assigned 40 patients undergoing primary TKA for osteoarthritis to receive either extended oral tranexamic acid (TXA) or a placebo. Outcomes measured included hemoglobin levels, knee flexion, VAS for pain and function scores, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement, ambulatory aids, ecchymosis, knee circumference, safety data and overall patient satisfaction.
Ford said patients in the extended TXA cohort had higher VAS and KOOS-JR scores at 2 weeks vs. the placebo group. He also said the treatment group had improved flexion, VAS and KOOS-JR scores, and independent ambulation vs. the placebo group at 6 weeks.
In addition, Ford said the two groups had no differences in hemoglobin levels or adverse events.
“Further investigation on the long-term outcomes, use in high-risk patients and the duration and dosing of TXA is warranted,” Ford concluded.
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Ford MC, et al. Postoperative oral tranexamic acid in TKA: A randomized controlled trial. Presented at: American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons Annual Meeting; Nov. 2-5, 2023; Grapevine, Texas.
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