Abstract
Background:
Is routine use of suction drain after joint replacement is justified.
Material & Methods:
Prospective evaluation was done to compare the effects of postoperative suction drain in 56 patients with no postoperative drain in 56 patients, undergoing total knee arthroplasty at our institute. Patients having severe systemic diseases, disturbed liver function, obesity, unstable diabetes and coagulation disorders were excluded from the study. Comparative evaluation was done for the blood loss, no of units of blood transfusion, wound hematoma, wound healing, duration of hospital stay, pain and range of motions.
Results:
All the patients were operated by one surgeon by using midline skin incision, midvastus approach and same method of wound closure. Sex distribution was same and no patient received anticoagulant chemoprophylaxis. Average fall in postoperative hemoglobin was 3.1 gm/dl in the drain group and 2.2 gm/dl in the non drain group. Drains were removed at 48 hrs or at 24 hr when drainage was less than 50 ml. Statistically comparative results were seen in both groups in regard of wound hematoma, wound healing, duration of hospital stay, pain and range of motions. But blood loss, fall of hemoglobin and no of units of blood transfusion was more in drain group.
Conclusion
Routine use of suction drainage do not offer any advantages and it should be used in patients with coagulation defects, on heparins, unstable diabetes or other risk factor for postoperative infection and hematoma formation.
