Purpose. This meta-analysis was designed to compare the effectiveness and safety of intravenous (IV) versus topical administration of tranexamic acid (TXA) in patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) by evaluating the need for allogenic blood transfusion, incidence of postoperative complications, volume of postoperative blood loss, and change in hemoglobin levels. Materials and Methods. Studies were included in this meta-analysis if they assessed the allogenic blood transfusion rate, postoperative complications including pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) or deep vein thrombosis (DVT), volume of postoperative blood loss via drainage, estimated blood loss, total blood loss, and change in hemoglobin before and after surgery in primary TKA with TXA administered through both the intravenous (IV) and topical routes.[Fig. 1]. Results. Ten studies were included in this meta-analysis.[Fig. 2] The proportion of patients requiring allogenic blood transfusion (OR 1.34, 95% CI: 0.63 to 2.81; P=0.45) [Fig. 3] and the proportion of patients who developed postoperative complications including PTE or DVT (OR 0.85, 95% CI: 0.41 to 1.77; P=0.66) did not significantly differ between the two groups. There was 52.3 mL less blood loss via drainage (95% CI: −50.74 to 185.66 ml; P=0.44),[Fig. 4] 21.5 mL greater estimated blood loss (95% CI: −98.05 to 55.12 ml; P=0.32), and 51.4 mL greater total blood loss (95% CI: −208.16 to 105.31 ml; P=0.52) [Fig. 5]in the topical TXA group as compared to the IV TXA group. The two groups were also similar in terms of the change in hemoglobin levels (0.02 g/dl, 95% CI: −0.36 to 0.39 g/dl; P=0.94). Conclusion. In primary TKA, there are no significant differences in the transfusion requirement, postoperative complications, blood loss, and change in hemoglobin levels between the intravenous and topical administration of TXA. For figures/tables, please contact authors directly.

Introduction. Patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) stand in the danger, a particularly high risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Fondaparinux and edoxaban, which inhibit FXa, indirectly and directly, respectively, have been used for prevention of VTE after THA in Japan. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of fondaparinux and edoxaban for VTE after elective THA in Japanese patients. Materials and methods. We randomly assigned 320 patients underdoing elective cemented THA to receive postoperative 2.5 mg fondaparinux once daily for first postoperative 3 days and 1.5 mg once daily for the subsequent 7 days (FPX group) [1], postoperative 15 mg edoxaban once daily for postoperative 10 days (EDO15mg group), 30 mg edoxaban once daily for postoperative 10 days (EDO30mg group), and 30 mg edoxaban once daily for first postoperative 3 days and 15 mg once daily for the subsequent 7 days (EDOmix group). Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) was diagnosed by ultrasonography at postoperative day 3 and 14. Computed tomography to detect pulmonary thromboembolism was performed to all patients who had proximal DVTs. The χ. 2. test with Bonferroni correction was used to compare variables of the incidence of DVT between each group. The intention-to-treat analysis was performed for statistical analysis in each group. The EDO30 mg group and EDOmix group were regarded as one group in the assessment at the postoperative day 3, and named as the EDO30mg+mix group. Result. There was no fetal bleeding, bleeding in a critical organ, or bleeding leading to reoperation. One patient in the FPX group dropped out due to discontinuation of administration due to proximal DVT at postoperative day 3 and switch to fibrinolytic therapy therapy. One patient in the EDO15mg group dropped out due to stop of administration because of subconjunctival hemorrhage at postoperative day 9. All the patients took the ultrasonography at postoperative day 3. The incidence of DVT was 13.8% (11/80) in the FPX group, 20.0% (16/80) in the EDO15mg group, and 15.0% (24/160) in the EDO30mg+mix group. At the postoperative day 14, except for dropouts, the incidence of DVT was 5.1% (4/79) in the FPX group, 19.0% (15/79) in the EDO15mg group, 8.8% (7/80) in the EDO30mg group, 13.8% (11/80) in the EDOmix group. One proximal DVT was detected in the FPX group at the postoperative day 3, and in other three groups at the postoperative day 14, of which, asymptomatic PE was detected in one patient in each FPX group and EDO30mg group. There was no significance between other each group in the intention-to-treat analysis. The incidence of DVT in the FPX group had a tendency to be lower than that of DVT in the EDO15mg group (p = 0.06). Discussion and conclusions. The results suggest that fondaparinux and edoxaban have an equal effect to prevent DVT for Japanese patients undergoing elective cemented THR. From the point of view of the cost-effectiveness and safety, edoxaban may be worth considering as an alternative

Using a computer-based quality assurance program, we analysed peri-operative data on 160 patients undergoing one-stage bilateral hip or knee arthroplasties under regional anaesthesia with routine anaesthetic monitoring and only using peripheral intravenous access for peri-operative safety. We monitored defined intra-operative adverse events such as hypotension, myocardial ischaemia, arrhythmias, hypovolaemia, hypertension and early post-operative complications. We also determined post-operative hip and knee function, and patient satisfaction with different aspects of the anaesthetic management. Those patients undergoing one-stage bilateral arthroplasties were matched according to a cross-stratification which used three variables (American Society of Anesthesiologists’ physical status scoring system, age and joint replaced) to patients undergoing unilateral hip or knee arthroplasties. Serious intra-operative adverse events were, with the exception of intra-operative hypotension, very infrequent in patients undergoing bilateral (nine adverse events) as well as unilateral arthroplasties (five adverse events). Early post-operative complications were also infrequent in both groups. However, the risks of receiving a heterologous blood transfusion (odds ratio 2.5; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3 to 5.0, estimated by exact conditional logistic regression) or vasoactive drugs (odds ratio 3.9; 95% CI 2.0 to 7.8) were significantly greater for patients undergoing bilateral operations. Patient satisfaction with anaesthesia was high; all patients who underwent the one-stage bilateral operation would choose the same anaesthetic technique again.