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Computer-assisted surgery linked with reduced blood loss in TKA
Use of an abbreviated computer navigation protocol during total knee replacement reduced blood loss compared arthroplasty performed with conventional intramedullary instrumentation, according to study results.
Researchers retrospectively reviewed 100 patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA), of which 50 patients had abbreviated computer-assisted surgery and the other 50 patients had their procedures performed with conventional intramedullary instrumentation. The primary outcome measure was to determine blood loss after TKA in both groups evaluated by the average hemovac drain output per hour, total hemovac drain output, change in hemoglobin levels and calculated total blood loss.
Overall, results showed computer-assisted surgery decreased blood loss for all primary outcome measures. Researchers found the computer-assisted surgery group had a mean total drain output of 512.6 mL vs. 643.3 mL in the conventional group. The average drain output per hour was 33.8 mL per hour in the computer-assisted surgery group and 40.5 mL per hour in the conventional group. The total calculated blood loss was 925 mL in the computer-assisted group vs. 1,327 mL in the conventional group, according to study results. Finally, results showed an average change in hemoglobin of 2.2 g/dL in the computer-assisted group and of 3.1 g/dL in the conventional group. – by Casey Tingle
Disclosures: Licini reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.