title: Short duration and low suction pressure drain versus no drain following total knee replacement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the short-term outcome in patients with or without a drain (short duration and low suction pressure) following total knee replacement (TKR).
  
  
  METHODS
  A consecutive series of 106 women and 48 men (mean age, 69 years) underwent unilateral TKR. The first 77 patients used a low suction pressure (200 mm Hg) drain following TKR for 24 hours, and the next 77 patients used no drain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 2 groups were comparable in terms of preoperative characteristics, the proportion of patients with pharmacological prophylaxis for deep vein thrombosis, the tourniquet time, and mode of anaesthesia. The mean drain output in the drain group was 221 ml. The time to achieve straight-leg-raising was earlier in the drain group (3.1 vs. 4.2 days, p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of a short duration, low suction pressure drain following TKR enabled an earlier return of quadriceps power, without increasing haemoglobin drop and transfusion rate.
authors.affiliation: Total Joint Replacement Center, Yan Chai Hospital, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Qunn Jid
authors.initials: QJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Wai Ping
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.forename: Wai Sun
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Hau
authors.forename: Sze Tsun
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.forename: Yiu Chung
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Yuk Leung
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Wai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001168:Arthritis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011312:Pressure; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013396:Suction; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: arthroplasty, replacement, knee; drainage; range of motion, articular