ObjectiveTo explore the short-term effectiveness of domestic robot-assisted total knee arthroplasty (RATKA) conducted by a prospective randomized controlled trial.MethodsPatients who were scheduled for primary unilateral TKA between October 2020 and December 2020 were eligible in this randomized controlled trial. According to the random number table method, they were allocated to the traditional TKA group and the RATKA group [application of the Yuanhua robotic-assisted TKA (YUANHUA-TKA) system during operation]. A total of 63 patients met the selection criteria were enrolled in the study, of which 3 cases voluntarily withdrew from the trial. And finally 60 cases were enrolled for analysis; of which 28 cases were in the RATKA group and 32 cases were in the traditional TKA group. There was no significant difference in gender, age, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, duration of osteoarthritis, surgical side, and preoperative knee visual analogue scale (VAS) resting and motion scores, joint range of motion (ROM), Knee Society Score (KSS), Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain, stiffness, and function scores, hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA) deviation (P>0.05). The operation time and intraoperative blood loss of the two groups were recorded. Knee joint VAS resting and motion scores, ROM, KSS scores, and WOMAC pain, stiffness, and function scores were used to evaluate the knee joint function and pain. Gait analysis (flexion and extension angle) was conducted at 3 months after operation. The full length X-ray films of lower limbs and anteroposterior and lateral X-ray films of knee joint were taken. The HKA deviation, lateral tibia component (LTC), frontal femoral component (FFC), frontal tibia component (FTC), and lateral femoral component (LFC) measured on the X-ray films were used to evaluat the lower limb alignment and prosthesis position.ResultsThe operations of the two groups completed successfully; the incisions healed by first intention after operation, and no complications related to the operation occurred. The operation time of the RATKA group was significantly longer than that of the traditional TKA group (t=12.253, P=0.001), and there was no significant difference in intraoperative blood loss between the two groups (t=3.382, P=0.071). All patients were followed up 3 months. At 3 months after operation, the knee joint VAS resting and motion scores, ROM, KSS scores, and WOMAC pain, stiffness, and function scores improved significantly when compared with preoperatively in the two groups (P<0.05); there was no significant difference of pre- and post-operative indicators between the two groups (P>0.05). The gait analysis showed that the flexion and extension angle in the RATKA group was significantly bigger than that in the traditional TKA group (t=9.469, P=0.003). X-ray films reexamination at 3 months after operation showed that the prostheses in the two groups were in good positions, and there was no adverse events such as prosthesis loosening or sinking. There were significant differences in the HKA deviation between pre- and post-operation in the two groups (P<0.05), but the difference of pre- and post-operative HKA deviation between the two groups was not significant (t=1.254, P=0.267). There was no significant difference in FFC, FTC, and LFC between the two groups (P>0.05); the LTC was significantly smaller in the RATKA group than in the traditional TKA group (t=17.819, P=0.000), which was closer to the ideal value.ConclusionYUANHUA-TKA system can improve the accuracy of osteotomy and the prosthesis placement as well as the lower limb alignment. Its short-term effectiveness can be promised, but long-term effectiveness needs to be further studied.
ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy and safety of multiple-dose intravenous tranexamic acid (TXA) for reducing blood loss in complex tibial plateau fractures with open reduction internal fixation by a prospective randomized controlled trial. MethodsA study was conducted on patients with Schatzker type Ⅳ-Ⅵ tibial plateau fractures admitted between August 2020 and December 2022. Among them, 88 patients met the selection criteria and were included in the study. They were randomly allocated into 3 groups, the control group (28 cases), single-dose TXA group (31 cases), and multiple-dose TXA group (29 cases), using a random number table method. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in terms of age, gender, body mass index, the Schatzker type and side of fracture, laboratory examinations [hemoglobin (Hb), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), fibrinogen (Fib), international normalized ratio (INR), D-dimer, and interleukin 6 (IL-6)], and preoperative blood volume. The control group received intravenous infusion of 100 mL saline at 15 minutes before operation and 3, 6, and 24 hours after the first administration. The single-dose TXA group received intravenous infusion of 1 g TXA (dissolved in 100 mL saline) at 15 minutes before operation, followed by an equal amount of saline at each time point after the first administration. The multiple-dose TXA group received intravenous infusion of 1 g TXA (dissolved in 100 mL saline) at each time point. The relevant indicators were recorded and compared between groups to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of TXA, including hospital stays, operation time, occurrence of infection; the occurrence of lower extremity deep vein thrombosis, intermuscular vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism at 1 week after operation; the lowest postoperative Hb value and Hb reduction rate, the difference (change value) between pre- and post-operative APTT, PT, Fib, and INR; D-dimer and IL-6 at 24 and 72 hours after operation; total blood loss, intraoperative blood loss, hidden blood loss, drainage flow during 48 hours after operation, and postoperative blood transfusion. Results ① TXA efficacy evaluation: the lowest Hb value in the control group was significantly lower than that in the other two groups (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between the single- and multiple-dose TXA groups (P>0.05). The Hb reduction rate, total blood loss, intraoperative blood loss, drainage flow during 48 hours after operation, and hidden blood loss showed a gradual decrease trend in the control group, single-dose TXA group, and multiple-dose TXA group. And differences were significant (P<0.05) in the Hb reduction rate and drainage flow during 48 hours after operation between groups, and the total blood loss and hidden blood loss between control group and other two groups. ② TXA safety evaluation: no lower extremity deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism occurred in the three groups after operation, but 3, 4, and 2 cases of intermuscular vein thrombosis occurred in the control group, single-dose TXA group, and multiple-dose TXA group, respectively, and the differences in the incidences between groups were not significant (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the operation time between groups (P>0.05). But the length of hospital stay was significantly longer in the control group than in the other groups (P<0.05); there was no significant difference between the single- and multiple-dose TXA groups (P>0.05). ③ Effect of TXA on blood coagulation and inflammatory response: the incisions of the 3 groups healed by first intention, and no infections occurred. The differences in the changes of APTT, PT, Fib, and INR between groups were not significant (P>0.05). The D-dimer and IL-6 in the three groups showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing over time, and there was a significant difference between different time points in the three groups (P<0.05). At 24 and 72 hours after operation, there was no significant difference in D-dimer between groups (P>0.05), while there was a significant difference in IL-6 between groups (P<0.05). Conclusion Multiple intravenous applications of TXA can reduce perioperative blood loss and shorten hospital stays in patients undergoing open reduction and internal fixation of complex tibial plateau fractures, provide additional fibrinolysis control and ameliorate postoperative inflammatory response.