Aim: To evaluate the benefits of suction drainage following primary total joint arthroplasty.

Materials and Methods: A two year retrospective study was conducted on 126 consecutively selected patients who had primary total hip & knee replacements in a district general hospital. There were 63 patients (mean age 69 years) each in drain and non-drain groups. Sex distribution and anticoagulants use in both groups were similar. All patients underwent same operative technique and method of closure. Primary hip replacements were carried out by Hardinge approach and knee replacements by medial parapatellar approach.

Results: Mean postoperative fall in haemoglobin was 3.2 and 3.3 gm/dl in the drain and nondrain groups respectively. Blood transfusion was required in 34 patients with drains and 28 patients without drains. Mean blood transfusion requirements in both the groups were between 2–3 units. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in postoperative complications such as hypotension and wound infections (all negative for microbiology culture). The average rehabilitation time in both the groups was 8–9 days. Statistical analysis showed no difference in postoperative fall of haemoglobin, blood transfusion and rehabilitation time between the two groups (p> 0.05).

Conclusion: We concluded that the routine use of suction drain is unnecessary after an uncomplicated total joint arthroplasty.