Effectiveness of suction drainage after primary or revision total hip and total knee arthroplasty

Postoperative suction drainage of a surgical wound is aimed at evacuation of wound hematoma. This study evaluated the effectiveness of suction drainage in joint replacement surgery. Surgical wounds in 206 patients with primary or revision hip and knee arthroplasty were assessed according to a set criteria. Forty-eight hours postoperatively, wound hematoma and exudate formation were not related to the use of suction drains. A greater tendency of wound oozing was seen in revision hip arthroplasty performed with postoperative suction drainage. Therefore, postoperative suction drainage did not affect hematoma formation or wound oozing and is thus considered an unnecessary practice.