Effect of tranexamic acid on symptomatic venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to investigate the effect of tranexamic acid (TXA) with sequential routine anticoagulation on postoperative symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a prospective study with randomized trials. From January 2013 to May 2015, 1880 patients undergoing primary TKA were enrolled in this study. Seven hundred and twenty patients who received TXA injection were included in the TXA group while 1160 patients who received placebo injection were included in the control group. Patients in the TXA group were treated with intravenous TXA or topical intravenous TXA, and all received sequential routine anticoagulation 12 h after the operation. We extracted data of patients’ sex, age, primary diagnoses, and comorbidities that could potentially affect the prevalence rate of VTE. To discuss the risk factors of symbolic VTE, comparisons were made within the TXA group between patients with symbolic VTE and non-symbolic VTE. Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the concurrent effects of various factors on the prevalence rate of postoperative VTE. RESULTS: Thigh perimeter was not closely associated with TXA injection. Within the TXA group, 24 (3.3%) patients had perioperative symptomatic VTE, 16 (2.2%) deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and 8 (1.1%) pulmonary embolism. High body mass index (BMI), low fibrinogen (Fbg) and simultaneous bilateral TKA were significant risk factors in both univariate analysis and multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Increased BMI, low Fbg, and simultaneous bilateral TKA could act as risk factors for postoperative symptomatic VTE treated with TXA.