title: Blood transfusion and drainage catheter clamping are associated with ecchymosis formation at the surgical site after total knee arthroplasty: an analysis of 102 unilateral cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many previous studies have focused on the postoperative complication of postoperative knee pain, infection, knee prosthesis loosening, periprosthetic fractures, and so on. There have been few studies focused on postoperative ecchymosis formation surrounding the wound of the TKA site. A certain degree of effect on the early functional recovery of the patients may occur due to the mental stress caused by the ecchymosis, which raises doubts regarding the success of the surgery. Therefore, it is particularly important to understand the risk factors for postsurgical ecchymosis formation after TKA, and specific measures for preventing ecchymosis should be taken. In this study, we reviewed the record of patients who received TKAs in our hospital, and a comprehensive analysis and assessment was conducted regarding 15 clinical factors causing postsurgical ecchymosis formation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The records of 102 patients who received unilateral TKAs between January 2007 and May 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups based on the occurrence of ecchymosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 102 patients, 14 (13.7%) developed ecchymosis. Blood transfusion and drainage catheter clamping during the first few postoperative hours had a significant impact on the development of ecchymosis (p < 0.05). There was no difference in age, BMI, operation time, pre- and postoperative platelet count, and length of postoperative anticoagulant therapy between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression revealed major risk factors for ecchymosis were postoperative blood transfusion (odds ratio (OR) = 15.624) and drainage catheter clamping (OR 14.237) (both, p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Blood transfusion and drainage catheter clamping after TKA due to excessive blood suction were associated with higher risks for ecchymosis formation surrounding the surgical site.
authors: Department of Joint Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 58 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Kang
authors: Zi-ji
authors: ZJ
authors: Zhang
authors: Ming
authors: M
authors: Fu
authors: Dong-liang
authors: DL
authors: Xu
authors: Pu-yi
authors: PY
authors: Sheng
authors: Wei-ming
authors: WM
authors: Liao
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D057785:Catheters / Q000009:adverse effects; D004322:Drainage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D004438:Ecchymosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D065227:Transfusion Reaction