OBJECTIVE To assess the effects of suction drainage versus nondrainage on the post-operative rehabilitation of patients receiving primary bilateral total knee arthroplasties (TKA).
Methods: A prospective study including 40 patients was conducted. These patients were diagnosed with osteoarthritis and underwent primary bilateral TKA between October 2007 and September 2009 with the same operation team. A suction drainage was placed by randomization in only one knee for each patient, while the other knee as self-control. Pain visual analogue scale score, extremity swelling, wound healing, range of motion and incidence of early post-operative complications between the drained and nondrained group were compared statistically.
Results: Each patient was followed up for 12 months. Placing drainage did not relieve the pain, extremity swelling, ecchymosis, or reduce the incidence of early complications (all P>0.05).
Conclusions: Suction drainage in TKA does not exhibit substantial advantages in promoting post-operative rehabilitation after unsophisticated TKA, compared with nondrainage. On the other hand, it might complicate the surgical operation, and increase the incidence of post-operative hemorrhage and retrograde infection. Thus we do not recommend suction drainage in unsophisticated TKA.