Application of Tranexamic Acid in Shoulder Arthroscopic Surgery: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Objective To explore the optimal administration route of tranexamic acid in optimal arthroscopic surgery. Methods Patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group (without TXA treatment), intravenous group (TXA was intravenously administered 10 minutes before surgery), irrigation group (TXA was added to the irrigation fluid during subacromial decompression and acromioplasty), and intravenous plus irrigation group (TXA was applied both intravenously and via intra-articular irrigation). The primary outcome was visual clarity assessed with visual analog scale (VAS) score, and the secondary outcomes included irrigation fluid consumption and time to subacromial decompression and acromioplasty procedure. Result The final analysis included 134 patients, including 33 in the control group, 35 in the intravenous group, 32 in the irrigation group, and 34 in the intravenous and irrigation group. The VAS scores of the intravenous, irrigation, and intravenous plus irrigation groups were 2.70 (2.50, 2.86) (Z = -3.677, P = 0.001), 2.67 (2.50, 2.77) (Z = -3.058, P < 0.001), and 2.91 (2.75, 3.00) (Z = -6.634, P < 0.001), respectively, significantly higher than that of the control group [2.44 (2.37, 2.53)]. Moreover, the control group consumed more irrigation fluid than intravenous group, irrigation group, and intravenous plus irrigation group (all P < 0.05). The intravenous plus irrigation group consumed less irrigation fluid than either the intravenous group or the irrigation group (both P < 0.001). There was no difference in subacromial decompression and acromioplasty operative time among all the 4 groups. Conclusion TXA applied both topically and systematically can improve intraoperative visual clarity, and the combined application is more effective.