Brian Grawe, MD
Sports
Studying Whether Tranexamic Acid Improves Visualization and Recovery in Rotator Cuff Surgery
This study is testing whether adding a small amount of tranexamic acid (TXA), a medication that helps reduce bleeding, to the irrigation fluid used during shoulder arthroscopy can improve the clarity of the surgical view and affect early recovery. When surgeons operate with a camera inside the shoulder, bleeding can cloud the view, making surgery more difficult. TXA might help reduce this bleeding. Adults who are scheduled for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair may be invited to join. After giving consent, patients are randomly assigned to one of two groups: Standard saline irrigation, or Saline irrigation with a low dose of TXA mixed in. Neither the patient nor the surgeon will know which one is used to keep the study fair. The surgery is performed using the usual minimally invasive technique. The video from the procedure is recorded so that surgeons can later rate how clear the view was at different points in the operation. After surgery, patients will have their shoulder movement checked, complete short surveys, measure pain at 8, 24, and 48 hours, and have their swelling measured. Doctors will also review the medical record for information such as operative time, bleeding, hemoglobin changes, and any complications. Patients continue routine clinic follow‑up at 6 weeks and then at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months, completing questionnaires about pain, function, and health. All visits are part of standard postoperative care; no extra visits are required. The purpose of this double‑blind study is to find out whether TXA can safely improve visualization during surgery and possibly help with pain control or reduce complications. The results may help guide future shoulder surgery practices.