[Sealing of Femoral Tunnel with Autologous Bone Graft Decreases Blood Loss]

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY Total knee arthroplasty is commonly used procedure with advanced stage arthritis which causes extensive blood loss intraoperatively and postoperatively. Purpose of this study is to show the effectiveness of sealing of femoral tunnel with bone grafting in preventing blood loss. MATERIAL AND METHODS 288 patients with primary bicompartmental knee arthroplasty who were operated in between April 2012 and June 2015 are retrospectively studied. Two groups are formed according to sealing of femoral tunnel with autologous bone graft or not. Group 1 was the plugged group with 192 patients and group 2 was the unplugged group with 96 patients. Operation time, arthrotomy method, anticoagulant therapy, postoperative care were similar in between two groups.'Independent sample t-test' is used to compare two groups as statistical method. RESULTS Postoperative lowest hemoglobin levels are higher in plugged group (p < 0.001). Drain outputs are much less than unplugged group (p < 0.001). There is no statistically significant difference between amount of given erythrocyte suspensions. DISCUSSION In the literature there are many attempts to reduce blood loss and allogenic blood transfusion. Some systemic or local usage of medical therapies, mechanical interventions such as cold application or intraoperative fibrin sealers are some of them. There are a few studies favoring usage of plugs and a few do not. Our findings showed less blood loss with usage of autologous bone grafting but did not significantly affect the blood transfusion amount. CONCLUSION Autologous bone grafting is a free to use, non-time consuming and an effective method to reduce blood loss. Key words: knee arthroplasty, plug, sealing of femoral tunnel, blood loss.