Abstract
The aim of this randomised prospective study was to establish whether the use of knee splints following total knee replacement is necessary.
The study included 81 patients undergoing total knee replacement who were randomised into a ‘splint’ and a ‘no splint’ group postoperatively. Patients in the ‘splint’ group had their knee splinted in extension in the early post-operative period but the splint was removed for the patients to do exercise. Splintage was completely removed when the patient could straight leg raise. Patients in the ‘no splint’ group had a wool and crepe bandage applied around their knee and allowed to fully mobilise from the first postoperative day. The following parameters were recorded: The range of movement preoperatively, 5 days post-operatively and 6 weeks postoperatively; the length of time to straight leg raise; the blood drained from the wound. and the amount of postoperative analgesia required.
Using the unpaired 2 tailed t-test it was found that patients in the four ‘no splint’ group achieved significantly greater flexion at 5 days and 6 weeks post-operatively but drained significantly more blood from the wound. Transfusion requirements were similar in the two groups. There was no other significant difference in the parameters measured between the two groups.
In conclusion we found no evidence to advocate the use of knee splints following total knee arthroplasty.
The abstracts were prepared by Mr R. B. Smith. Correspondence should be addressed to him at the British Orthopaedic Association, Royal College of Surgeons, 35-43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PN.
