Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2026

Knee Arthrocentesis in Adults
Published on: February 25, 2022
Knee arthroplasty and bleeding: when to remove drainages
Oscar Ares1, Roberto Seijas, Alberto Hernandez
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Trauma, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, C/Villarroel 170, Traumatologia, escalera 12-4, 08036, Barcelona, Spain. arestraumatologia@gmail.com
Purpose:
The aim of this study is an attempt to clarify the productive time of drainages as we find that the use of drains in knee arthroplasty is controversial, and there is no consensus regarding their length-time maintenance. We analysed the survival curve of bleeding within three surgical techniques for knee arthroplasty and the effect of two variables on survival curve.
Methods:
One hundred and eighty-eight out of 234 knees were included in the study, and patients were divided into three groups according to the surgical technique: conventional total knee arthroplasty (TKA), subvastus TKA and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty. Variables of study were type of surgery, number and placement of drains.
Results:
Mean of survival curve for postoperative bleeding time was 16 h (95 % CI: 15.4; 16.6). The risk for longer bleeding increased 1.38-fold with each additional drain used (95 % CI 1.1; 1.8).
Conclusions:
According to the present study, drains can be safely removed at around 17 h postoperative. Bleeding time reduces as less drains are applied.
Level Of Evidence:
Therapeutic study, Level III.
Related Concept Videos
Peripheral Artery Disease V: Postoperative Nursing Management
Venous Thrombosis IV: Nursing Management
Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care
Epistaxis
Etiology
Possible causes of this condition include high blood pressure, trauma, low humidity, upper respiratory tract infections, allergies, foreign bodies, nasal inhalation of corticosteroids or illicit drugs, excessive use of decongestant nasal sprays, facial or nasal surgery, anatomic malformation, tumors, or systemic...
Aneurysm III: Interprofessional Care
Aneurysm IV: Nursing Management