Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32860523›Full record

ArticleKnee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA2021

Toxicity of tranexamic acid (TXA) to intra-articular tissue in orthopaedic surgery: a scoping review.

Scott M Bolam, Arama O'Regan-Brown, A Paul Monk, David S Musson, Jillian Cornish, Jacob T Munro

Abstract readScoping Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 21 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
21citing papers in PubMed
1.7field-weighted citation impact, top 17% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

21 citing papers in PubMed, 37 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Trial
  2. Tranexamic acid in shoulder surgery: a narrative review.JSES reviews, reports, and techniques · 2026
    Review
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Review
  7. Review
  8. Review
  9. Article
  10. Article
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  12. Article
  13. Is tranexamic acid safe for the hip joint?Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology · 2024
    Article
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Article
  17. Review
  18. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Scott M BolamFaculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Building 502 201, 85 Park Road, Grafton, 1023, New Zealand. s.bolam@auckland.ac.nz.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0197-307X
Arama O'Regan-BrownFaculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Building 502 201, 85 Park Road, Grafton, 1023, New Zealand.
A Paul MonkDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Auckland City Hospital, 2 Park Road, Grafton, New Zealand.
David S MussonFaculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Building 502 201, 85 Park Road, Grafton, 1023, New Zealand.
Jillian CornishFaculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Building 502 201, 85 Park Road, Grafton, 1023, New Zealand.
Jacob T MunroFaculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Building 502 201, 85 Park Road, Grafton, 1023, New Zealand.
University of Auckland · NZ

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeIntra-articular administration of tranexamic acid (TXA) in orthopaedic arthroplasty and arthroscopic procedures has become increasingly common over the past decade. However, several recent reports have shown that TXA has the potential to be cytotoxic to cartilage, tendon and synovium. Our aim was to review the literature for evidence of toxic effects from TXA exposure to intra-articular tissue.

methodsA scoping review methodology was used to search for studies assessing the toxic effects of TXA exposure to intra-articular tissues. MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS and The Cochrane Library were searched. Relevant information was extracted and synthesis of the retrieved data followed a basic content analytical approach.

resultsA total of 15 laboratory studies were retrieved. No clinical studies reporting a toxic effect of TXA on intra-articular tissue were identified in our search. Studies were analysed according to species of origin, tissue of origin and study setting (in vitro, ex vivo, or in vivo). There was increasing cytotoxicity to chondrocytes, tenocytes, synoviocytes and periosteum-derived cells with TXA concentrations beyond 20 mg/ml. Monolayer cell cultures appear more susceptible to TXA exposure, than three-dimensional and explant culture models. In vivo studies have not demonstrated a major toxic effect.

conclusionsCurrent evidence suggests a dose-dependent toxic effect on cartilage, tendon, and synovial tissue. Concentrations of 20 mg/ml or less are expected to be safe. There is a significant body of evidence to suggest the need for caution with intraarticular administration of TXA. There is a need for further human clinical trials in order to clarify the long-term safety of TXA topical application.

Indexed as

ArthroscopyAntifibrinolytic AgentsChondrocytesHumansInjections, Intra-ArticularPeriosteumSynoviocytesTenocytesTranexamic AcidAntifibrinolytic AgentsTranexamic Acid

Identifiers

PMID32860523
OpenAlexW3081615362

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.