Topical hemostatic procedures control blood loss in bilateral cemented single-stage total knee arthroplasty

Blood management is critical in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). In bilateral, single stage TKA, blood loss seems more prominent. We believe it is important to control all potential bleeding within the wound tissue.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate a series of topical procedures used to reduce blood loss and transfusion in single-stage bilateral cemented total knee arthroplasty: antifibrinolysis with tranexamic acid, vasoconstriction with epinephrine, sealing of the bone section intraoperatively, and closure of the drainage tube within the first 4 h postoperatively.

Patients with osteoarthritis of the knees were randomly divided into two groups. In group A, 5 ml (25 mg/ml) tranexamic acid (TXA) and 5 ml analgesic containing epinephrine (3 μg/ml) solution were injected at several points into the posterior capsule before installation of the prosthesis. The femoral medullar canal was closed with autograft bone and then sealed compressively with cement. Before the tourniquet was released, 10 ml TXA solution and 10 ml analgesic containing epinephrine were injected at several points into the periosteum, synovium, joint capsule, tendons, and deep fascia tissue (injection of analgesic containing epinephrine into subcutaneous fat and dermis was avoided). The residual nail holes in the bone and the uncovered bone section were covered with bone wax. The tourniquet was then removed, and active bleeding points were stanched. TXA solution (20 ml) was injected into the articular cavity after wound closure. The drainage tube was clamped for 4 h, then opened. In group B, injection of analgesic containing epinephrine into soft tissue, control of active bleeding, and clamping of the drainage tube for 4-h, only, were performed.

Ninety patients were enrolled in the study. Compared with those in group B, intraoperative blood loss, drainage volume, total postoperative blood loss, and number of patients requiring allogenic blood transfusion were significantly reduced in group A. There was no significant difference between the incidence of complications in the groups.

Our topical procedures enable effective and safe reduction of blood loss and the number of patients requiring transfusion in single-stage bilateral osteoarthritic TKA.