Objective To systematically review the clinical efficiency and safety after topical administration of tranexamic acid in total hip arthroplasty. Methods Relevant randomized controlled trials were identified from databases such as Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase and CNKI from the establishment of the database to August, 2017. A systematic review was performed to compare total blood loss, the rate of transfusion and thromboembolism events between the tranexamic acid group and the control group. And the patients in tranexamic acid group were treated with tranexamic acid for hemorrhage after total hip arthroplasty, while the patients in the control group were not treated with tranexamic acid or used isotonic saline. Analysis was carried out using Review Manager version 5.2.0 software. Results Eight studies were incorporated into the Meta-analysis. The results of Meta-analysis showed that there was significant difference in total blood loss between two groups [weighted mean difference (WMD)=–360.27 mL, 95% confidence interval (CI) (–412.68, –307.87) mL, P<0.000 01]. There was significant difference in the rate of transfusion between two groups [ (odds ratio,OR)=0.22, 95%CI (0.14, 0.33), P<0.000 01]. There was no significant difference in complications between two groups [OR=1.48, 95%CI (0.41, 5.34), P=0.55]. Conclusion Topical administration of tranexamic acid could significantly reduce total blood loss and transfusion requirements in primary total hip arthroplasty, and would not increase thromboembolic complications.