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Study indicates closed suction drainage not necessary after TKA
Results of this prospective study demonstrated closed suction drainage is not necessary after total knee arthroplasty performed with a posterior-stabilized prosthesis.
Researchers assessed 63 patients who underwent primary bilateral total knee arthroplasty with a cemented posterior stabilized prosthesis. The minimum follow-up was 5.5 years. Investigators classified patients into the following three groups: closed suction drain on both sides (20 patients); closed suction drain on one side and other side had no drain (22 patients); and no drains (21 patients).
Investigators also evaluated short-term and long-term outcomes. Short-term outcomes included hemoglobin drop and side-to-side comparison of the range of motion and knee circumference at 1-week, 2-weeks and 3-weeks postoperatively. Long-term evaluation included range of motion, pain score and a self-assessment.
The day after surgery, the hemoglobin drop was significantly greater in bilateral and unilateral groups compared with patients with no drainage. Investigators noted both short-term and long-term complication incidences were not significantly different between knees with drainage and those without it.
Side-to-side comparisons demonstrated the group of patients with one drain had no significant differences with regard to knee extension, flexion and circumference. Patients with drains in both knees and those without drainage were not significantly different with regard to clinical outcomes, according to researchers. ‒ by Monica Jaramillo
Disclosures: Watanabe reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.