Prathinthong, Witaya; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Phichit Hospital2011-03-112011-03-112011-03-102011-03-10Buddhachinaraj Medical Journal; Vol.27 (Supplement 1) May-Augst 2010; 339http://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/134436Intraoperative and postoperative blood loss in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) associated with shock or complicationfrom allogenicblood transfusions. The objective of this study was to assess effectiveness of tranexamic acid forblood conservation strategy after TKA by comparing the patients with and without tranexamic acid (TA)administered. In an experimental research, 111 patients who had minimal invasive surgery for TKA in PhichitProvincial Hospital between May 2005 until July 2010 were randomized. Treatment group, 54 patients wereadministered with TA. Control group, 57 patients were not administered with TA. The patient demographic dataand laboratory characteristics were analyzed, presented by frequency, percentage then compared withchi-square and Fisher’s exact test. The median of intraoperative, postoperative blood loss and allogenicbloodtransfusions were compared by Mann-Whitney U test with significant level at 0.05, and also compared risk ratio(RR) of these conditions. The results showed that intraoperative blood loss, total postoperative blood loss andallogenic blood transfusions were significantly lower in treatment group. The risk ratio of intraoperative blood lossand transfusion requirementwere less in treatment group [RR 0.39 (95%CI 1.29, 2.42) of intraope rative blood loss and RR 0.32 (95%CI 0.22, 0.55) of transfusion requirement]. The results indicate that tranexamic acid can reduce blood loss and transfusion requirements in total knee  arthroplasty.en-USBuddhist Hospital, Phitsanulok, ThailandResearch Article