Abstract
We performed a retrospective study of 89 total knee replacements in which post-operative suction drainage was used (in 73 knees) and not used (in 16 knees) from 1989 to 1994. Comparison of these 2 groups revealed no statistically significant difference in the rate of wound infection, the amount of time needed to return to preoperative levels of erythrocyte sedimentation ratio, or in the postoperative range of motion. However, the amount of time needed to return to pre-operative levels of C-reactive protein was longer in the drained group (P=0.01). And there was a greater decrease in the drained group of homoglobins and hematocrit than in the non-drained group (P=0.001).
We conculded that suction drainage on total knee replacement surgery is meaningless.
