title: Comparison of closed-suction drainage and no drainage after primary total knee arthroplasty.
abstract: One hundred thirty-six primary total knee arthroplasty patients were randomized for the use of closed-suction, nonreinfusable wound drains. Blood loss was identical in the drained and undrained groups. Forty percent of undrained wounds compared with 0% of drained wounds required dressing reinforcement. Sixty-nine percent of undrained wounds compared with 39% of drained wounds developed ecchymosis, measuring 92 cm2 in the undrained group and 28 cm2 in the drained group. This study concludes that a simple wound drain effectively minimizes the undesirable accumulation of blood in the surrounding soft tissues and the postoperative wound dressing after total knee arthroplasty.
authors.affiliation: Anderson Orthopaedic Research Institute, Alexandria, Va 22307, USA.
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Parks
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Engh
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lawrence
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D001458:Bandages; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D004322:Drainage; D004438:Ecchymosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013396:Suction / Q000379:methods*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology