The role of bladder catheterization in total knee arthroplasty.

The use of a urinary bladder catheter in the perioperative period for patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty is controversial. In the current study, two bladder management protocols were studied. One group of patients had an indwelling catheter inserted into the bladder before total knee arthroplasty. The other group of patients was observed and treated for urinary retention as necessary. From 1993 to 1998, 652 patients undergoing primary, unilateral total knee arthroplasty were randomized by surgeon into two groups: one group underwent preoperative insertion of an indwelling bladder catheter (306 patients), and one group (346 patients) had a catheter inserted postoperatively as necessary. Sixty-six percent (229 of 346) of these patients required catheterization (203 had indwelling catheters and 26 had intermittent straight catheters). A urinary tract infection developed in five patients (1.6%) in whom a catheter was inserted preoperatively. A urinary tract infection developed in six patients (1.7%) in whom a catheter was inserted if necessary. Five of these urinary tract infections developed in patients with delayed indwelling bladder catheters. A urinary tract infection did not develop in any patient in whom a straight catheter was inserted. There was no significant difference in the length of stay in the hospital between the two groups. The group in whom a catheter always was inserted generated $491 greater cost for total knee arthroplasty than patients in whom a catheter was inserted if necessary.