Abstract: Background: Closed suction drainage of wounds has been well established as a principle of management following joint arthroplasty. Merits of use of drain is that it prevents hematoma formation at surgical site by evacuating blood from joint space, which is one of the factors responsible for colonization by bacteria causing superficial as well as deep-seated infection. Drains decreases tension over the incision (which consequently decreases pain), reduces ecchymosis and the need for change of dressings, reduces delayed wound healing and also reduces risk of infection. It can also cause retrograde infection if placed for a long time. Therefore, the role of this study was to clarify up to what time period a drain should be placed after total knee arthroplasty to evacuate maximum amount of heamatoma without increasing chances of infection.
Materials and Methods: 57 patients who underwent unilateral or bilateral primary TKA surgeries has been studied for the amount of blood loss in drain during first 12 hrs and after 24 hrs and any kind of wound infection (superficial/deep) within one month of primary TKA surgeries.
Results: On analysis of total cases (57 cases), it was found that the percentage of minimum blood drained was 66% and maximum was 100% with a mean of 88.76% with in first 12 hours. If we do analysis on the basis of blood drained more than 80%, or less than 80% of total blood drained in first 12 hrs, we found that only in 6 cases, the blood drained in first 12 hrs was less than 80%.
Conclusion: So, this has been concluded that the closed suction drain can be removed after 12 hrs without any further significant drainage and without increasing chances of infection.
