Abstract
BACKGROUND: Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) and nadroparin calcium are commonly used to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) following joint replacement surgery. In this study, we compared the effects of tranexamic acid combined with either LMWH or nadroparin calcium in preventing DVT after joint replacement surgery. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients who underwent unilateral THA/TKA at the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from September 2021 to June 2023. Patients were divided into two groups based on the anticoagulant used: Tranexamic Acid + Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin group (n = 80) and Tranexamic Acid + Nadroparin Calcium group (n = 85), both treated for 2 weeks. The perioperative indicators [blood loss, hospital stay, operation time, transfusion rate, transfusion volume, and total hospitalization cost], complications DVT, muscle compartment vein thrombosis (MCVT), incision infection, pulmonary thromboembolism, and postoperative hematoma], coagulation indicators [D-dimer, prothrombin activity, international normalized ratio, and fibrinogen], hematological parameters [platelets, hemoglobin, hematocrit], and inflammatory factors [procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α)] were compared between the two groups. RESULT: The preoperative indicators of both groups were statistically indistinguishable (P > 0.05). Comparisons of intraoperative blood loss, overt blood loss, covert blood loss, total blood loss, hospital stay duration, operation time, transfusion rate, and transfusion volume showed no significant differences between the groups (P > 0.05). The TXA + LMWH group exhibited significantly lower D-dimer, PT activity, international normalized ratio, and fibrinogen levels on postoperative days 1 and 5 compared to the TXA + Nadroparine group, with significant differences observed (P < 0.05). No significant differences between the two groups were found in platelet count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, PCT, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α levels on postoperative days 1 and 5 (P > 0.05). The total hospitalization costs in the TXA + LMWH group were significantly lower than those in the TXA + Nadroparine group, with a significant difference (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study found that the clinical efficacy and safety of the TXA + Nadroparine and TXA + LMWH groups were basically the same after joint replacement surgery. However, the TXA + LMWH group demonstrated better prevention of thrombosis and significantly lower overall hospitalization costs compared to the TXA + Nadroparine group.