Short duration and low suction pressure drain versus no drain following total knee replacement

To compare the short-term outcome in patients with or without a drain (short duration and low suction pressure) following total knee replacement (TKR).

A consecutive series of 106 women and 48 men (mean age, 69 years) underwent unilateral TKR. The first 77 patients used a low suction pressure (200 mm Hg) drain following TKR for 24 hours, and the next 77 patients used no drain.

The 2 groups were comparable in terms of preoperative characteristics, the proportion of patients with pharmacological prophylaxis for deep vein thrombosis, the tourniquet time, and mode of anaesthesia. The mean drain output in the drain group was 221 ml. The time to achieve straight-leg-raising was earlier in the drain group (3.1 vs. 4.2 days, p<0.001).

The use of a short duration, low suction pressure drain following TKR enabled an earlier return of quadriceps power, without increasing haemoglobin drop and transfusion rate.