The influence of femoral cementing on perioperative blood loss in total knee arthroplasty: a prospective randomized study.
BACKGROUND
Total knee arthroplasty can involve substantial blood loss. We prospectively studied a consecutive series of patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty to assess the influence of femoral cementing on perioperative blood loss. We hypothesized that an uncemented femoral component is a risk factor for bleeding.


METHODS
A semiconstrained posterior stabilized prosthesis was used in all patients. Preoperatively, 130 patients were randomly assigned to either the cement group (Group 1) or the hybrid group (Group 2). We selected all patients who underwent a knee replacement through a medial parapatellar approach (n = 107). Group 1 consisted of forty-two women and twelve men ranging in age from fifty-six to eighty-five years. Group 2 consisted of thirty-seven women and sixteen men ranging in age from fifty-six to eighty-five years. The hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were recorded preoperatively and five days postoperatively for each patient. The volumes of postoperative suction drainage and the rate of blood transfusion were recorded.


RESULTS
No differences between the two groups were identified with regard to hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, total measured blood loss, postoperative drainage amounts, or transfusion rates. The total measured blood loss was 1758.9 mL for Group 1 and 1759 mL for Group 2.


CONCLUSIONS
Cementing the femoral component during a total knee arthroplasty does not appear to influence the amount of perioperative blood loss or the need for postoperative blood transfusion.
Demey
Guillaume
G
Centre Albert-Trillat, Hôpitaux de la Croix-Rousse, 8 rue de Margnolles, 69300 Caluire-Lyon, France. guillaume.demey@chu-lyon.fr
Servien
Elvire
E
Pinaroli
Alban
A
Lustig
Sébastien
S
Aït Si Selmi
Tarik
T
Neyret
Philippe
P
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000379:methods*; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002484:Cementation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000601:surgery*; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D014111:Tourniquets
D000925:Anticoagulants; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight