Tranexamic acid administration routes for total knee arthroplasty

Abstract

<p>Patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) present unique challenges for healthcare providers. With these procedures, blood loss is a major complication that can lead to anemia, delayed wound healing, joint contractures, and increased infection risk. The intra-operative administration of tranexamic acid (TXA) via peri-articular, intra-articular, or intravenous (IV) routes can lead to reduced blood loss and diminished transfusion requirements for patients post-operatively. The IV administration route only allows a small portion of the agent to reach the target tissue. In addition, the systemic effects and increased risk of venous thromboembolism associated with intravenous TXA can cause concern for specific patient populations. The peri-articular and intra-articular approaches to TXA administration have recently been adopted as an alternative to IV TXA. These administration routes result in diminished systemic absorption while still achieving a reduction in blood loss and post-operative transfusion requirements.&nbsp;</p>