Tranexamic Acid in Total Joint Arthroplasty
Developed by the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons
Administration Method Versus Placebo
Administration of intravenous (IV), topical, and oral TXA as well as combinations of individual formulations of TXA are all effective strategies when compared to placebo for reducing calculated blood loss and the need for transfusion during the perioperative episode of a primary TJA.
Strong Recommendation Strong Recommendation
The direct meta-analysis of one moderate quality and 82 high quality studies provided significant evidence for the ability of TXA to reduce the risk of blood loss and need for transfusion during the perioperative episode of primary hip and knee arthroplasties. 2, 3 Subsequent network meta-analysis supported the blood-sparing properties of TXA. 2, 3

Total Hip Arthroplasty
Intravenous and topical TXA have been shown with limited heterogeneity in direct metaanalysis to reduce blood loss.2 Similarly, IV and topical TXA were found to reduce the risk of transfusion compared to placebo by 60% and 71%, respectively.2 Network metaanalysis of low dose IV (< 20mg/kg or ≤ 1g), high dose IV (≥ 20mg/kg or > 1g), high dose topical (> 1.5g), oral, and combined IV/topical TXA reduced the risk for blood loss compared to placebo.2 Correspondingly, network meta-analysis demonstrated low dose IV, high dose IV, high dose topical, low dose topical, and combined IV/topical TXA to significantly reduce the risk of transfusion.2

Due to a lack of studies directly comparing oral TXA with placebo, no conclusions could be derived in the direct meta-analysis.2 Network meta-analysis was performed to provide an indirect comparison of oral TXA, which demonstrated significantly reduced blood loss compared to placebo.2 Although oral TXA was shown to be equivalent regarding risk of transfusion to all other formulations of TXA in the network meta-analysis, oral TXA did not reduce the risk of transfusion compared to placebo. The inconsistency is the result of the network relying on indirect comparisons and a limited number of studies. Similar limitations were observed for lower doses (≤ 1.5g) of topical TXA in the network meta-analysis.2 In the analysis, low dose topical TXA did not significantly reduce blood loss but did reduce the risk of transfusion compared to placebo.2

Total Knee Arthroplasty
Intravenous and topical TXA consistently demonstrated in direct meta-analysis the ability to reduce blood loss during the perioperative episode of a primary TKA.3 Topical and oral TXA reduced the risk of transfusion by 66% and 61% for each respective formulation of TXA when compared to placebo.3 Intravenous TXA administered as a single dose either before or after incision, reduced the risk of transfusion by either 81% or 55% compared to placebo.3 When multiple doses of IV TXA were administered, the observed reduction in transfusion was 75% compared to placebo.3 Subsequent network meta-analysis demonstrated low dose IV, high dose IV, low dose topical, high dose topical, and oral TXA as well as combinations of IV/topical and IV/oral TXA to reduce blood loss and risk of transfusion during the perioperative episode of a TKA.3
Administration Method Versus Other Methods
The analysis of studies did not identify a clearly superior method, or combinations of methods, for the administration of TXA. All methods of administration effectively demonstrate equivalent efficacy at reducing calculated blood loss and the risk of transfusion during the perioperative episode of a primary TJA.
Strong Recommendation Strong Recommendation
The direct meta-analysis of 31 high quality studies provided no evidence to favor any specific method of TXA to reduce the risk of blood loss and need for transfusion during the perioperative episode of primary hip and knee arthroplasties.2,3 Subsequent network meta-analysis included a more expansive comparison between the methods of TXA administration with no evidence to clearly support a superior method of administration.4,5

Total Hip Arthroplasty
Intravenous and topical TXA have been compared together in multiple randomized clinical trials, which through direct meta-analysis showed no difference in the risk of transfusion.2 Network meta-analysis provided the opportunity to perform direct and indirect comparisons between low dose IV (< 20mg/kg or ≤ 1g), high dose IV (≥ 20mg/kg or > 1g), low dose topical (≤ 1.5g), high dose topical (> 1.5g), oral, and combined IV/topical TXA.2 In terms of the ability to reduce blood loss, no method of TXA administration was found to provide a significantly different outcome.2 Similar results in the network meta-analysis were observed for risk of transfusion with the exception that a combination of IV and topical TXA was equivalent to oral TXA but superior to low dose IV, high dose IV, low dose topical, and high dose topical TXA.2 However, the inconsistent result regarding combined IV/topical TXA likely represents bias from a limited number of studies and not superiority to other methods of TXA administration.

Total Knee Arthroplasty
Direct comparisons were performed between IV TXA and topical, oral, or combined IV/topical TXA, which found no difference in the risk of transfusion.3 Similar to the network meta-analysis of THA, direct and indirect comparisons were performed between low dose IV, high dose IV, low dose topical, high dose topical, and oral TXA as well as combinations of IV/topical and IV/oral TXA that resulted in no difference in their blood sparing properties.3 The significant differences between methods of TXA administration were observed in respect to the risk of transfusion being higher for low dose IV TXA compared to high dose IV or combined IV/topical TXA, which could represent a dose response or the limited number of studies.3
Dosing
Within the context of the TXA doses used in primary TJA, the dose amount of TXA was not found to significantly affect its reduction of calculated blood loss or the need for transfusion during the perioperative episode of a primary TJA
Strong Recommendation Strong Recommendation
Due to a limited number of studies, direct meta-analysis could not be performed on the six high quality publications that solely investigated the dose effect of either IV or topical TXA.2,3 Only two of the published studies observed a difference in favor of higher doses of IV or topical TXA.4,5 However, two different studies investigating the same comparative doses of topical TXA (1.5g and 3g) in primary TKA did not observe a difference in calculated blood loss or risk of transfusion with higher doses of topical TXA.6,7 Additionally, two publications of IV TXA in THA or TKA did not favor higher doses of IV TXA.8,9 When a network meta-analysis was performed regarding the dose effect of IV or topical TXA, it demonstrated limited evidence for a reduction in either transfusion risk or calculated blood loss with higher doses of TXA.2,3

Although a dose response has only been observed in the analysis of TKA for IV TXA with the risk of transfusion, it does not preclude the presence of a dose response for IV or topical TXA. The anticipated dose response is likely not present at the levels of blood loss or the doses of TXA utilized for primary THA or TKA. In the network meta- analysis of primary THA and TKA, the range of IV TXA doses were 10 mg/kg and three doses of 15 mg/kg while for topical TXA doses the range was between 0.5g and 3g.2,3

Intravenous Tranexamic Acid
Network meta-analysis demonstrates no additional reduction in blood loss following a hip or knee arthroplasty with high dose IV (≥ 20mg/kg or > 1g) TXA compared to low dose IV (< 20mg/kg or ≤ 1g) TXA.4,5 A dose response was observed in the network meta-analysis with a reduced risk of transfusion for higher doses of TXA in primary TKA, but similar results were not found for primary THA.2,3 Additional evidence shows no significant difference comparing single-dose and multiple doses of IV TXA, which further supports the notion that higher doses of IV TXA are not necessarily clinically needed to improve the blood-sparing effects in the setting of hip or knee arthroplasties.2-3

Topical Tranexamic Acid
Direct meta-analysis and network meta-analysis consistently reported no statistical difference between low dose (≤ 1.5g) and high dose (> 1.5g) topical TXA.2-3 A dose response was not observed for either blood loss or risk of transfusion regarding low dose or high dose topical TXA following hip or knee arthroplasty.2,3
Multiple Dose vs. Single Dose
Administration of multiple doses of IV or oral TXA compared to a single dose of IV or oral TXA does not significantly alter the amount of calculated blood loss and need for transfusion during the perioperative episode of a primary TJA.
Strong Recommendation Strong Recommendation
Direct meta-analysis was performed using six high quality studies to compare between a single dose and multiple doses of IV TXA during primary TKA, which demonstrated no additional benefit for multiple doses of IV TXA.3 Due to a limited number of studies, direct meta-analysis could not be performed for primary THA. However, the results of the available individual studies consistently demonstrate no additional benefit for multiple doses of IV TXA in primary THA.8,10,11

An expanded comparison was performed through a network meta-analysis on primary hip and knee arthroplasties. Multiple doses of oral TXA have not been studied in primary THA, thus analysis was only available for IV TXA in primary THA. Network meta-analysis showed no additional benefit in terms of blood loss or risk of transfusion for multiple doses of IV TXA compared with a single dose.5 Similarly, the results for primary TKA supported no benefit for multiple doses of IV or oral TXA compared to a single dose of either IV or oral TXA.3
Timing of Administration
In primary TJA, administration of IV TXA before the incision potentially reduces blood loss and the need for transfusion compared to its administration after incision.
Moderate Recommendation Moderate Recommendation
Direct meta-analysis investigating the affect on timing of TXA administration was available in five high quality studies.2,3 Due to a limited number of studies, direct metaanalysis was only performed for primary TKA.2,3 The result showed no significant difference between pre-incision and post-incision administration. However, trends towards significance were identified.3 Network meta-analysis for primary TKA demonstrated that a single dose of IV TXA before incision reduced the risk of transfusion compared to administration after incision; however, there was no significant difference regarding blood loss.3 In the setting of a primary THA, network meta-analysis failed to show any significant difference in blood loss or risk of transfusion between pre-incision and post-incision administration of TXA.2

Due to the inconsistency in the results of high quality studies, we are only able to provide “moderate” support to our recommendation. Despite the inconsistencies, we still recommend pre-incision TXA administration because the results demonstrate no potential benefit for post-incision administration. In contrast, pre-incision administration does demonstrate benefit in some of the analyses.
VTE Risk (Patients Without History)
Administration of IV, topical, and oral TXA in patients without a known history of a VTE does not increase the risk of developing a VTE compared to placebo during the perioperative episode of a primary TJA.
Strong Recommendation Strong Recommendation
Direct meta-analysis investigating the impact of TXA administration on the risk of VTE was performed utilizing 77 high and one moderate quality randomized clinical trial. Of those, 92% of the studies utilized history of a thromboembolic event as an exclusion criterium.12 Individual results for hip and knee arthroplasty demonstrated no significant difference between all methods of TXA administration compared to placebo.12 Since individual studies included were noted to be comprised of small sample sizes, the hip and knee arthroplasty populations were combined to analyze for differences between IV and topical application of TXA in order to comment on the incidence of rare complications like VTE.12 This combined analysis further supports the group’s conclusion that there is no evidence of increased risk of VTE with TXA administration (combined results had a relative risk closer to “no difference” than the subgroup analysis).12 Given this overwhelming evidence, we provide “strong” support to our recommendation that TXA administration at doses typically utilized in hip and knee arthroplasty is not associated with an increased risk of VTE for patients without a known history of VTE.
VTE Risk (Patients With History)
There is a paucity of randomized clinical trials on the risk of adverse effects of IV, topical, and oral TXA in patients with known history of a VTE, MI, CVA, TIA, and/or vascular stent placement. The existing high quality literature regarding administration of TXA in patients of generally higher comorbidity burden does not suggest increased risk of adverse thromboembolic events during the perioperative episode of a primary TJA.
Moderate Recommendation Moderate Recommendation
Despite an established proposed mechanism of action for TXA as a fibrin clot stabilizer, clinician concerns remain over the use of any antifibrinolytic medication in patients considered at “high-risk” for thromboembolic events (e.g., previous history of VTE, MI with vascular stents, cerebral vascular occlusive disease) which continues to limit the widespread adoption of TXA use in hip and knee arthroplasty.13 Since no clinical trials have investigated specific risk factors, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification system was used as a proxy to identify “high-risk” patients among the literature available. In a meta-regression analysis comparing a population of patients with greater than 50% ASA status ≥3 to another population with patients of greater than 50% ASA status 1 or 2, the results demonstrated no increase in the risk of VTE for patients undergoing a primary hip or knee arthroplasty.12 Due to the absence of experimental evidence, we also reviewed observational studies on the topic of TXA administration in patients with specific risk factors. Large database studies suggest TXA administration in patients with a history of VTE or ASA status of ≥ 3 does not experience an increased risk of VTE.14-17

In the “high-risk” patient population, we must consider the summation of the benefits and potential risks of administering TXA. Despite limited data on the safety of TXA, we wish to highlight a parallel lack of evidence for harm. Additionally, evidence has demonstrated that postoperative cardiovascular complications are associated with anemia and high blood transfusion rates.18-20 Therefore we wish to highlight the overall positive summation of data on TXA efficacy in the context of limited evidence for added risk with the use of TXA. In sum, the calculation of the number needed to harm for VTE among the total joint population was 983 patients, but the number needed to treated with IV TXA in THA and TKA to prevent a transfusion was only 4 and 3 patients, respectively.12 Although the available data limits for stronger advocacy and more widespread use in those at “high-risk”, each patient with known risks factors should be considered individually and we advocate for a multidisciplinary approach when deciding whether to withhold or administer TXA.
ATE Risk
There is a paucity of randomized clinical trials on the risk of ATE due to the administration of TXA intravenously, topically, and orally. However, the existing evidence does not suggest that TXA increases the risk of developing an ATE compared to placebo during the perioperative episode of a primary TJA.
Moderate Recommendation Moderate Recommendation
Arterial thromboembolic events following primary hip or knee arthroplasty are exceptionally infrequent complications and are rarely reported in the randomized clinical trials as most patients who have known risk factors for these events are often excluded from these types of studies. In a direct meta-analysis investigating arterial and venous thromboembolic events, only 9 studies reported the incidence of ATE.12 Due to the limited number of studies, the authors performed combined hip and knee arthroplasty direct meta-analysis only. The results demonstrated no statistical difference in the risk of ATE between IV or topical TXA and placebo.12

Although the direct meta-analysis was limited to high-quality studies, we are only able to provide “moderate” support to our recommendation. The combination of paucity of data, lack of studies specifically designed to investigate the complication of ATE, and exclusion of patients with known risk factors among those studies that were available, diminished our ability to provide for a stronger recommendation and an individual riskbenefits assessment will be necessary.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Guideline Work Group:
Yale Fillingham, MD
Dipak B. Ramkumar, MD
David S. Jevsevar, MD
Adolph J. Yates, MD
Siraj A. Sayeed, MD
Alexander P. Sah, MD
Stefano Bini, MD
Henry D. Clarke, MD
Emil H. Schemitsch, MD
Rebecca L. Johnson, MD
Stavros G. Memtsoudis, MD, PhD
Craig J. Della Valle, MD