The effect of local injection of tranexamic acid into peri-articular tissue versus drain clamping in total knee arthroplasty: a randomized controlled trial

The necessity of suction drainage when intra-articular injection of tranexamic acid is used during primary total knee arthroplasty: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Suction drainages are commonly used after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedures; however, their use is somewhat controversial. Recently, some reports have claimed that the administration of tranexamic acid (TXA) may prevent postoperative bleeding following TKAs. Although numerous studies have reported regarding different dosages, timings of administration, or drain clamping times for intravenous and intra-articular TXA injections (IA-TXAs), few have examined whether suction drainage is necessary when TXA is administered. In this study, we compared using suction drainage without TXA administration and IA-TXA without suction drainage and aimed to examine the need for suction drainage during IA-TXA.

METHODS

This retrospective study was conducted on 217 patients who had received TKA for osteoarthritis; 104 were placed on suction drainage after TKA without TXA (Group A), whereas the remaining 113 received IA-TXA immediately after surgery without suction drainage (Group B). Our clinical evaluation included assessments of the need for transfusion, presence of postoperative complications, incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and changes in hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), and D-dimer levels.

RESULTS

No significant differences were observed in terms of postoperative complications and preoperative Hb, Hct, or D-dimer levels between the two groups. Although the prevalence of DVT was significantly higher in Group B (p < 0.05), all cases were asymptomatic. Hb and Hct levels were significantly lower in Group A than in Group B at 1, 3, 7, and 14 days postoperatively (p < 0.05), although none of the cases required blood transfusions. D-dimer levels were significantly higher in Group A than in Group B at 1 and 3 days postoperatively (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Suction drainage might not be necessary when IA-TXA is administered after TKA procedures.

Efficacy of a Combined Periarticular and Intraosseous Multimodal Analgesic Injection Technique in Simultaneous Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction Early postoperative pain poses a challenge for surgeons to manage after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Various techniques have been employed to optimize pain reduction, including Periarticular Multimodal Analgesia (PMA), recognized as a safe and effective method. Our study aims to enhance PMA through a combined intraosseous injection (PMA-I) and compare it with standard PMA. Methods Forty patients undergoing simultaneous bilateral TKA surgery were enrolled. Patients were randomized to receive PMA-I on one side of the knee, while the contralateral knee received standard PMA. Pain scores, bleeding, and range of motion (ROM) were assessed in both groups. Results The PMA-I group demonstrated statistically significant lower visual analog scale (VAS) scores at all postoperative time points, except at 48 hours, where the difference was not statistically significant. Postoperative bleeding and ROM did not significantly differ between groups. Conclusion PMA-I demonstrated both statistically and clinically significant reduction in early post-TKA pain, without additional costs, providing a technique that can be used to optimize postoperative pain control in TKA.

Blood-conserving and therapeutic efficacy of intravenous tranexamic acid at different time points after primary total knee arthroplasty with tourniquet application: a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The use of a tourniquet in combination with tranexamic acid (TXA) not only ensures clear vision, reduces intraoperative blood loss and shortens operative time but also improves cement-bone inter-digitation in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, there is no proof whether the blood flow blocking effect of tourniquet affects the antifibrinolytic effect of TXA, and the optimal timing of TXA administration is still unclear. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of the first dose of TXA administered intravenously before tourniquet compression and release in TKA on perioperative blood loss and therapeutic efficacy in patients.

METHODS

In this double-blind trial, 90 patients undergoing primary TKA were randomised into 2 groups: Group A, patients received intravenous TXA 10 min before tourniquet compression (20 mg/kg) and 3, 6 and 24 h later (10 mg/kg), and Group B, patients were treated the same as those in Group A but received intravenous TXA before tourniquet release. The primary outcomes were changes in blood loss, haemoglobin and haematocrit. Secondary outcomes included operation and tourniquet times, blood transfusion rate, subcutaneous petechiae and circumferential changes in the operated limb, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, hospital for special surgery (HSS) score, length of stay (LOS) postoperatively, complications and patient satisfaction.

RESULTS

No statistically significant difference was found between the 2 groups with regard to age, sex, weight, body mass index (BMI), Kellgren-Lawrence class, preoperative blood volume, preoperative laboratory values, operation and tourniquet times, transfusion rate, knee circumference, preoperative HSS, or VAS score (P:n.s.). There was no significant difference in intraoperative blood loss (IBL) (52.7 ml vs. 63.4 ml, P = 0.07), hidden blood loss (HBL) (91.4 ml vs. 119.9, P = 0.4) or total blood loss (TBL) (144.1 ml vs. 183.3 ml, P = 0.72) between Groups A and B. Haemoglobin, haematocrit and red blood cell count (RBC) dropped to a low point on postoperative day 3 and then rebounded, returning to normal levels on day 21, and the trend of change between the 2 groups was not statistically significant (P:n.s.). There was no significant difference in subcutaneous ecchymosis incidence, knee swelling rate, HSS score, VAS score, LOS postoperatively, complication rate or patient satisfaction (P:n.s.).

CONCLUSION

TXA was administered intravenously prior to tourniquet compression could effectively reduce blood loss in patients who had undergone total knee arthroplasty. However, there was no significant difference in knee swelling rate, subcutaneous bruising and petechiae incidence, knee function, complication rate or satisfaction between patients who TXA was given intravenously before tourniquet compression and release in primary TKA.

Periarticular infiltration used in total joint replacements: an update and review article

Periarticular infiltration following total knee and hip arthroplasty has been demonstrated to be equivalent to peripheral nerve blocks for postoperative pain management. The ideal cocktail has not been established yet. We have conducted a literature search on PubMed and Embase. Our search criteria included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews (SRs). We tried to only include the most recent studies to keep the information current. The included research focused at Dexmedetomidine, Liposomal Bupivacaine, Ropivacaine, Epinephrine, Ketorolac, Morphine, Ketamine and Glucocorticosteroids. Each medication's mode of action, duration, ideal dosage, contraindications, side effects and effectiveness have been summarized in the review article. This article will help the clinician to make an informed evidence-based decision about which medications to include in their ideal cocktail.

Case Report and Minireview of the Literature on Blunt Azygos Injury

Azygos vein injury seems to be an uncommon cause of hemothorax and hemomediastinum; however, this injury is potentially fatal. We report a fatal case of blunt azygos injury and a PubMed search was undertaken to identify English articles from 1989 to 2022 using the key words "azygos", "injury" and "blunt". We found 28 articles about blunt azygos injury and 39 patients including the present case (average 41.2 years [range: 18-81 years]; male, n=20; female, n=19). The other variables were as follows: right hemothorax (n=32); unstable circulation on arrival (n=32); and survival (n=19; unknown, n=2). These cases were divided into two groups based on the outcome: the survival group and the fatal group. There were no significant differences with regard to the year of the report, age, sex, rate of right rib fracture, rate of preoperative computed tomography (CT) examination, rate of associated injury, and rate of operation. The rate of shock on arrival in the survival group was significantly lower than that in the fatal group. The rate of azygos arch injury in the survival group was significantly greater than that in the fatal group. The emergency physician must consider azygos vein injury as a possible cause of right hemothorax when a patient with blunt chest trauma presents persistent hypotension.