Drainage effects in total knee arthroplasty

Dong Pan-feng; Chen Yue-ping; Kang Jie; Zhang Xiao-yun; Rao Yi

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2014.17.005

Abstract：BACKGROUND:Drainage has been applied as a routine to hip and knee replacement surgery. However, as a potential channel, drainage could become a portal for bacteria and other pathogens to invade the joint cavity. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the clinical significance and safety of drainage in total knee arthroplasty. <br> METHODS:The 80 patients were prospectively randomized into two groups:Group 1 included 38 patients with wound drainage;Group 2 included 42 patients without any drainage. According to a formula calculation, blood loss, the number of subjects requiring blood transfusion, volume of blood transfusion, complications and the recovery of function after total knee arthroplasty were statistical y analyzed. <br> RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The subjects were fol owed up for 2 years after discharge. Two patients lost to fol ow up in the non-drainage group. 78 patients were involved in the result analysis. The total blood loss, the number of subjects requiring blood transfusion and volume of blood transfusion were more in the drainage group than those in the non-drainage group after surgery. At 3 days after arthroplasty, active range of motion was larger in the drainage group than that in the non-drainage group. No significant differences in hemoglobin levels and Keen Society Score scores were detected after arthroplasty between the two groups. Results suggested that draining wil increase the blood loss and blood transfusion, but it may contribute to the early recovery of knee function. No significant differences in long-period Keen Society Score scores and postoperative complications were detectable between the two groups.