Intra-articular injection of tranexamic acid reduces not only blood loss but also knee joint swelling after total knee arthroplasty.

Purpose: This is a randomised controlled trial to examine whether intra-articular injection of tranexamic acid (TXA) decreases blood loss, as well as reducing leg swelling after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods: We performed 100 TKA in osteoarthritis patients. At closure, a total of 2,000 mg/20 ml TXA was injected into the knee joint through a closed suction drain (TXA group). For the control group, the same volume of physiological saline was injected. The pre-operative condition of the patients, post-operative haemoglobin (Hb) levels, discharge volumes from drain, D-dimer and needs for transfusion were compared between these two groups. Furthermore, leg diameters (thigh, suprapatellar portion and calf girth) were measured pre- and post-operatively to investigate whether TXA has an influence on leg swelling after surgery.

Results: The results revealed that post-operative decrease in Hb level was significantly reduced in the TXA group. Furthermore, knee joint swelling after operation was significantly suppressed in the TXA group compared to the control group.

Conclusions: The results revealed intra-articular administration of TXA decreased not only blood loss, but also knee joint swelling after TKA.