Effect of Tranexamic Acid on Blood Management during a High Tibial Osteotomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency and safety of tranexamic acid for blood management during high tibial osteotomy (HTO). A systematic search was conducted in Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane library database. Six studies and 208 patients were included in this meta-analysis using Review Manager V.5.3 and Stata 15.1 software. For primary outcomes, tranexamic acid lowered the total blood loss (WMD = -219.47, 95% CI [-355.61, -83.33], P = 0.002). For secondary outcomes, a significant reduction was found for decreased hemoglobin (POD1: WMD = -9.86, 95% CI [-13.45, -6.28], P < 0.05; POD2: WMD = -8.41, 95% CI [-11.50, -5.32], P < 0.05; POD5: WMD = -11.48, 95% CI [-14.56, -8.39], P < 0.05) and drainage (total: WMD = -105.93, 95% CI [-187.08, -24.78], P < 0.05; POD1: WMD = -122.195, 95% CI [-168.902, -75.488], P < 0.05). The sex difference (male/female ratio) was determined (total blood loss: P = 0.025; total drainage amount: p = 0.018) using meta-regression analysis. Females benefited more from tranexamic acid in terms of total blood loss (M/F > 40%: WMD = -53.11, 95% CI [-100.16, -6.05], P = 0.03; 40% ≥ M/F ≥ 20%: WMD = -362.20, 95% CI [-423.96, -300.45], P < 0.05; M/F < 20%: WMD = -263.00, 95% CI [-277.17, -248.83], P < 0.05) and total drainage (M/F > 40%: WMD = -7.11, 95% CI [-10.75, -3.47], P < 0.05; 40% ≥ M/F ≥ 20%: WMD = -104.72, 95% CI [-155.36, -54.08], P < 0.05; M/F < 20%: WMD = -222.00, 95% CI [-297.42, -146.58], P < 0.05). No significant differences were found for drainage on POD2 and POD3, wound complications, orthromboembolic events. In conclusion, tranexamic acid is effective and safe for blood management during HTO. Females appeared to benefit more from it, and an additional postoperative dose is suggested fora better effect.