We compared blood transfusion for three groups of patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Patients were randomized to receive either their post operative wound drainage as an autotransfusion We used an autotransfusion system with anticoagulant in one group (n=28) and an other one without anticoagulant in the other group (n=28). Allogeneic blood was transfused in patients of either group whose haemoglobin fell bellow 9 gr/dl. Only 2% of patients in two autotransfusion groups required an allogeneic transfusion compared with 82% in the control group (n=28 without any autotransfusionsystem). We compared Ht, Hgb, WBC, SGOT, SGPT, Bilirubin and D-dimers test before, one, three and seven days post-operative. We also compared the patients temperature before and after auto or allogeneic transfusion. There was no hospital mortality and the patients costs were lesser in the autotransfusion group. We conclude that in TKA postoperative autotransfusion is a safe, effective economic method and the most of all reduces allogeneic blood use.

Aims: To explore the clinical value of foot extensor digi-torum brevis (EDB) muscle in patients with unilateral lumbosacral radiculopathy. Methods: This is a prospective study of 153 patients with low back pain (LBP) and unilateral lumbosacral radiculopathy. The average duration of symptoms was 94 (1–279) days and the average age of patients was 62 (18–75) years. Twenty þve patients had disc herniation with the involvement of L4 nerve root; 32 patients with the L5, and 36 with the S1. There were 31 patients with LBP only. Patients with a history of trauma of the lower legs, repetitive mechanical irritation, or systemic diseases were excluded. In all patients full clinical and neurological examination of the spine was performed. Clinical evaluation of the EDB with resisted dorsal ßexion of the toes was also made. The size and consistency of the EDB muscle was documented and compared with that of the opposite foot. Results: Seventeen patients with L5 and S1 nerve root involvement had isolated atrophy of the EDB muscle as this was compared to the EDB of the opposite side. Conclusions: Clinical evaluation of EDB muscle in patients with unilateral lumbosacral radiculopathy may aid the examiner in understanding the nature and level of the spinal nerve root pathology.