Peculiarities of Drainage after Total Knee Arthroplasty

Abstract

Treatment results for 65 patients were analyzed depending on the approach to the knee joint drainage after arthroplasty. Active drainage was performed using two large-diameter tubes (group 1, n=16), one large-diameter tube (group 2, n=20), one small-diameter tube (group 3, n=15). In group 4 (n=14), no drainage was performed. Hemoglobin level, knee joint circumference at the level upper patellar pole, volume of drainage discharge and the number of days for exudation via contraperture after drainage tube removal (groups 1-3), pain intensity by visual analog scale, terms of wound gluing and sutures removal, frequency of hemotransfusion were assessed. Statistically significant expediency of active drainage with 1 large-diameter tube and pleats was proved. Without drainage a statistically significant lower decline in hemoglobin levels on 3rd and 5th postoperative days was observed but the terms for wound edges adhesion and the period of knee edema increased.