Holt B T, Parks N L, Engh G A, Lawrence J M
Anderson Orthopaedic Research Institute, Alexandria, Va 22307, USA.
Orthopedics. 1997 Dec;20(12):1121-4; discussion 1124-5. doi: 10.3928/0147-7447-19971201-05.
One hundred thirty-six primary total knee arthroplasty patients were randomized for the use of closed-suction, nonreinfusable wound drains. Blood loss was identical in the drained and undrained groups. Forty percent of undrained wounds compared with 0% of drained wounds required dressing reinforcement. Sixty-nine percent of undrained wounds compared with 39% of drained wounds developed ecchymosis, measuring 92 cm2 in the undrained group and 28 cm2 in the drained group. This study concludes that a simple wound drain effectively minimizes the undesirable accumulation of blood in the surrounding soft tissues and the postoperative wound dressing after total knee arthroplasty.
