Randomized Controlled Trial of Tranexamic Acid in Total Knee Arthroplasty: Intravenous vs. Topical
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2017-05-16
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The purpose of this study is to determine whether topical or intravenous administration of
tranexamic acid during unilateral total knee replacement is more effective at reducing
bleeding in the first 24 hours following surgery. Tranexamic acid is a synthetic drug that
has been shown to reduce blood drain output and the need for blood transfusions in both its
topical and intravenous forms and is commonly used in orthopedic surgery. We hypothesize that
IV and topical administration of tranexamic acid will be equally good at reducing the loss of
blood and the need for transfusion immediately following total knee replacement.