title: Is suction drainage necessary after total joint arthroplasty? A prospective study.
abstract: A prospective evaluation of 98 patients who had undergone a total hip or knee arthroplasty was conducted to assess the effect of postoperative suction drainage. Sixty-six patients undergoing elective total hip arthroplasty and 32 patients undergoing total knee replacement were randomly allocated to undergo either suction drainage or no drainage of the wound. Statistical analysis of the results showed no difference in wound healing, severity of wound haematoma, postoperative blood transfusion requirement, range of motion and duration of the hospitalization between the two groups. We conclude that the use of closed suction drainage provides no apparent advantage after uncomplicated total hip or knee arthroplasty.
authors.affiliation: Service d'orthopédie et de traumatologie de l'appareil moteur, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: X M
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Crevoisier
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reber
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Noesberger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000517:prevention & control; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013396:Suction; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology