Total Knee Replacement Among Elderly: The Role of Tranexamic Acid

Abstract

BackgroundTranexamic acid (TXA) administration in total knee replacement (TKR) surgery has been shown to reduce blood loss and transfusion requirements. However, its efficacy and safety in elderly patients undergoing arthroplasty remain under investigation. This study aimed to assess the impact of TXA on blood loss and post-operative outcomes in TKR patients among a local elderly population. MethodologyA prospective descriptive-analytical hospital-based randomized study was conducted, involving 79 TKR patients who received TXA. Demographic data, comorbidities, pre-and post-operative hemoglobin levels, length of hospital stay, transfusion requirements, and post-operative complications were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY), including descriptive analysis and comparative tests. ResultsThe mean drop in hemoglobin levels post-operatively was -1.55 g/dL (SD = 0.94). The majority of patients (78, 98.7%) did not require packed red blood cell transfusions post-operatively, and complications were minimal (1, 1.3%). The length of hospital stay was relatively short (mean = 4.84 days). Comparison with existing literature revealed TXA's effectiveness in reducing blood loss compared to studies without TXA administration. ConclusionTXA administration in TKR surgery effectively reduced blood loss, transfusion requirements, and postoperative complications, supporting its use as a standard adjunctive therapy. These findings emphasize the importance of TXA in optimizing patient outcomes and minimizing surgical complications in TKR patients. Limitations of the study include the relatively small sample size and the exclusion of patients with certain comorbidities, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Further research is warranted to validate these findings in larger patient cohorts and explore long-term effects.