Effectiveness and Safety of High-Dose Tranexamic Acid in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Surgery: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and retrospective controlled studies aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of high-dose tranexamic acid (TXA) in spinal correction surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients. In March 2024, a comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane databases to identify randomized controlled trials and retrospective controlled studies comparing the effects of high-dose TXA on blood loss and transfusion requirements during spinal correction surgery. This meta-analysis included 10 clinical trials encompassing a total of 741 patients. The pooled results indicated that the use of high-dose TXA significantly reduced intraoperative blood loss [weighted mean difference (WMD) = −519.83, 95% CI (−724.74, −314.92), P < 0.00001], transfusion rate [RR = 0.28, 95% CI (0.17, 0.45), P < 0.00001], total blood loss [WMD = −891.09, 95% CI (−1623.92, −158.26), P = 0.02], and postoperative blood loss [WMD = −105.91, 95% CI (−141.29, −70.52), P < 0.00001]. There was no significant difference in operative time [WMD = −18.96, 95% CI (−40.20, 2.28), P = 0.08] and blood loss per segment [WMD = −50.51, 95% CI (−102.19, 1.17), P = 0.06]. Both groups had a comparable incidence of thromboembolic events. Our meta-analysis suggests that the use of high-dose TXA reduces intraoperative blood loss, transfusion rate, total blood loss, and postoperative blood loss in spinal correction surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients. However, there were no significant differences in operative time and blood loss per segment.