Commentary on "clinical efficacy of tranexamic acid administration via different routes during total hip arthroplasty: study protocol for a prospective randomized controlled trial"

Abstract

Perioperative blood loss is a major complication of total hip arthroplasties. The use of tranexamic acid (TXA) is considered during total hip arthroplasties for its antifibrinolytic effects, reducing blood loss and anemia following these surgeries. In order to compare the efficacy of different forms of TXA administration on reducing blood loss, Zhou et al. have designed a randomized, controlled, double-blinded clinical trial comparing the use of intravenous TXA versus topical TXA administration. By employing a large sample size and an effective paired study design, the protocol of Zhou et al. may be effective in producing significant results on the relative efficacy of these two forms of TXA administration for reducing blood loss. This commentary addresses the strengths and drawbacks of this protocol, while also highlighting potential areas for improvement. With corrections, the study could prove clinically valuable to both patients and surgeons, since the use of topical TXA may result in fewer thromboembolic complications than intravenous administration.