Abstract: Aim: The main aim of this study is to compare early postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing total knee replacement with or without drain.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on indoor patients undergoing total knee replacement at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital and Research Centre, Erandwane, Pune from September 2016 to December 2017 and comprised 62 patients (31 patients in each group – group 1 without drain and group 2 with drain) of both gender meeting the inclusion criteria. Patients were post-operatively followed up for one month and outcomes- percentage drop of haemoglobin, requirement of blood transfusion and wound complications noted and compared.
Results: The 2 groups were comparable in terms of pre-operative characteristics. There was no statistically signiï¬cant difference in mean pre- and post-operative haemoglobin, average percentage drop of haemoglobin (20.91% in group without drain and 18.7% in group with drain), blood transfusion requirement and wound complications in the two groups.
Conclusion: There appears to be no clear benefit or drawback to the use of suction drainage after total knee replacement.
