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Updated: Jun 28, 2026
Knee Arthrocentesis in Adults
Published on: February 25, 2022
Conventional drainage versus four hour clamping drainage after total knee arthroplasty in severe osteoarthritis: a
Justinas Stucinskas1, Sarunas Tarasevicius, Algimantas Cebatorius
1Department of Orthopaedics, Clinic of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Kaunas University of Medicine, Eiveniu 2, 50009, Kaunas, Lithuania. justinas.stucinskas@gmail.com
Abstract:
Total knee replacement in severe osteoarthritis usually requires extensive soft tissue releases often associated with considerable bleeding. In a prospective, randomised trial we compared postoperative conventional suction drainage versus four hour clamping drainage in 60 patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty for severe osteoarthritis. We compared blood loss, number of transfusions, postoperative complications and knee function and found significantly less postoperative blood loss through the drains (p < 0.001), and fewer blood transfusions (p = 0.09) were needed in the clamped group. We conclude that clamping drainage after total knee arthroplasty in severe osteoarthritis reduces blood loss through the drains and the need for blood transfusions.