Abstract: Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of tranexamic acid (TXA) in decreasing operative blood loss and the need for transfusion during posterior spinal fusion for the treatment of idiopathic scoliosis in adolescents. Methods A retrospective comparative analysis of 93 consecutive adolescents undergoing posterior spinal fusion procedures was per⁃ formed. Patients were divided into treatment group (TXA, n=43) and control group (n=50). Clinical indicators were compared in operation and after operation between two groups. Results There was significantly less operative blood loss (703±176) mL in TXA group than that of control group (1143±389) mL. And post operation flow was also lower in TXA group than that of control group [(145±75)mL vs (278±95) mL, P< 0.001)]. Autologous blood recovery in patients was lower in TXA group than that of control group [(241.0±109.1) mL vs (372.7±123.0) mL, P < 0.001). There were no major intraoperative complica⁃ tions in two groups. There was no blood transfusion in TXA group, and there was 1 case with 400 mL blood transfusion in con⁃ trol group. Conclusion TXA treatment can decrease blood loss and blood transfusion and not increase intraoperative and postoperative complications in surgery of posterior spinal fusion of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Key words: tranexamic acid, scoliosis, spinal fusion, blood loss, surgical