title: Comparison between drainage and non-drainage after total hip arthroplasty in Chinese subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the difference between drainage and non-drainage after total hip arthroplasty (THA) in Chinese subjects by evaluating post-operative complications and joint function.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and sixty-eight patients undergoing THA were randomly allocated into drainage (83 patients) and non-drainage groups (85 patients). All surgeries were performed by one surgical team using the same pre-, intra-, and postoperative techniques. Measured items included: hemoglobin (Hb), superficial and deep wound infection, volume of blood transfusion, wound hematoma thickness, range of motion (ROM) of the hip, wound healing time, ecchymosis and tension vesicles around the wound.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Early after THA, the Hb decreased significantly in the drainage group. There was no significant difference between non-drainage and drainage groups in need for or volume of blood transfusions (9.6% vs 8.2%, P = 0.100; 3.8 units vs 2.9 units, P = 0.089, respectively). In the non-drainage group, the incidence of superficial infection, ecchymosis and tension vesicles was significantly higher than in the drainage group (10.6% vs 2.4%, P = 0.031; 12.9% vs 3.6%, P = 0.026; 16.5% vs 4.8%, P = 0.013, respectively). In addition, the non-drainage group had a greater volume of hematomas (P = 0.000). Patients in the non-drainage group had smaller ROMs early after surgery but the final ROMs did not differ significantly between groups. No deep infection occurred in either group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Non-drainage may reduce postoperative blood loss but has no benefits regarding blood transfusion or deep infection. It may cause more post-operative complications because of restriction of early postoperative exercise by pain and swelling. Therefore we suggest routine use of drainage after THA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Centre for Joint Surgery, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Wei-nan
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Zong-ke
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Peng-de
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Fu-xing
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Pei
mesh_terms: D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000379:methods*; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002681:China; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005271:Femur Head Necrosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins
keywords: Drainage; Non-drainage; Total hip replacement