Tranexamic acid in arthroscopic repair of rotator cuff tears in the shoulder: a randomized trial.

Study Summary

60 patients undergoing arthroscopic repair of rotator cuff tears were randomized to receive placebo, oral tranexamic acid (TXA) at 20 mg/kg 2 hours before surgery, or intravenous TXA at 15 mg/kg 10 minutes before incision. The primary outcome was intraoperative visual clarity assessed subjectively by the surgeon and objectively using computerized video analysis. Secondary outcomes included surgery duration, anesthesia duration, radiofrequency ablations, irrigation pump-pressure increases, and irrigation fluid volume. Outcomes were assessed intraoperatively throughout the surgical procedure. Overall, the results revealed no significant differences between groups in subjective or objective visual clarity or perioperative measures. These findings suggest that routine oral or intravenous TXA does not improve visualization during standard arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.