Tranexamic Acid for ACL Injury and Joint Health

This study is looking at whether Tranexamic Acid (TXA), an FDA-approved medication, can help reduce inflammation and improve joint health after an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury and reconstruction surgery. Patients who tear their ACL are at high risk for developing arthritis later on. Researchers believe that TXA, by reducing bleeding and inflammation, might help prevent or delay this. You could be eligible if you are between 18 and 30 years old, had a recent ACL injury (within 4 days), and have swelling or bleeding in your knee. The study will measure inflammation levels in your joint fluid and your knee symptoms after 6 months. The current recruitment status is unclear.

Study design
This interventional study plans to enroll 50 participants. It will compare Tranexamic Acid to a placebo (inactive treatment).
What's involved
Participants would receive Tranexamic Acid or placebo orally for 5 days and intravenously during ACL reconstruction surgery. Your joint fluid will be measured at Day 5, and you will report on your knee symptoms at 6 months after surgery.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your knee symptoms will be assessed at 6 months after ACL reconstruction surgery.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT03552705

The Effects of Tranexamic Acid on Joint Inflammation and Cartilage Health in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injured Patients

Recruiting
PHASE2Ages 18–30InterventionalTreatment
Stanford University
~50 participants
Updated 2026-02-27 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Tranexamic AcidPlacebos

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Synovial fluid IL-1
Measured over Day 5
+1 more outcome measured
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

NCT03552705

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • Stanford University

    Stanford, Californiastudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

  • Constance Chu, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Stanford University

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

Want this trial checked against your situation?

Add a private profile and we'll compare every criterion below against your situation — and tell you which ones are met, uncertain, or excluding.

Check eligibility for this trial ~2 min · HIPAA-protected · delete anytime
Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

age 18-30 years
within 4 days of unilateral ACL injury
presence of effusion/hemarthrosis.

Exclusion

inflammatory arthritis, radiographic osteoarthritis (K-L Grade 2 or higher), gout/ pseudogout
systemic or acute illness requiring medications
concomitant knee injury aside from meniscus tear and MCL tear not requiring surgery
prior surgery to either knee
prior injury to either knee requiring crutches
history of thromboembolic disease
current use of combination hormonal contraception
chronic NSAID use
cortisone injection to either knee within the prior 3 months
not indicated for or unable to undergo ACLR within 3 months of injury
  • Synovial fluid IL-1Day 5

    To determine whether TXA administered acutely after ACL injury reduces synovial fluid markers of inflammation and cartilage degradation

  • Patient-Reported Outcomes (PRO): Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)6 months post-ACLR

    To determine whether TXA administered acutely after ACL injury and during ACLR surgery improves PRO (KOOS Quality of Life) at 6 months after ACLR. The Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) assesses a patient's opinion about their knee and associated problems. Standardized answer options are given (5 Likert boxes) and each question is assigned a score from 0 to 4. A normalized score (100 indicating no symptoms and 0 indicating extreme symptoms) is calculated.