Does Not Use of Closed Suction Drainage in Total Knee Arthroplasty with Tranexamic Acid Reduce Blood Loss?

Background. The aim of this study was to compare outcomes in patients who received intravenous tranexamic acid just before and after total knee arthroplasty with or without drains and to analyze whether there is any difference in terms of blood loss. Material and methods. This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of patients undergoing unilateral total knee arthroplasty. Between March 2017 and March 2019, 97 knees of 94 consecutive patients with osteoarthritis were divided into two groups (Group 1, with drain; and 2, without drain). Drainage group (53 knees; average age, 66,1±7,0 years; male, 10; female, 43) and a drainless group (44 knees; average age, 63,7± 7,5 years; male, 4; female, 40). All patients received systemic tranexamic acid (in 100 mL saline infusion iv in 30 minutes prior to the tourniquet inflation and 3 hours after the operation). Blood loss, allogeneic blood transfusion rates, complications such as swelling of the cruris, infection (deep or superficial), thromboembolic incidents (Deep venous thrombosis or pulmoner thromboembolism) and length of hospital stay were assessed postoperatively. Results. There was no difference in demographic parameters, body mass index, side ofsurgery, ASA score and anesthesia type between 2 groups. The preoperative Hb levels were comparable but on the postoperative day one, Hb level was lower in the drain group (p=0,017). Total blood loss (TBL) and allogeneic transfusion rates were lower in the drainless group, although did not differ significantly between the two groups [TBL: 1360,9±502,5 / 646,1-2641,6 (1251,6) mL in the Group 1, 1205,6±505,0 / 396,6-2521,0 (1157,5) mL in Group 2 (p=0,134); Transfusion rates: 11 out of 53 cases (%20,8) in group 1 and 5 out of 44 cases (%11,4) in group 2]. The infection rate and length of hospital stay were lower in the drainless group. But there were no statistical difference was found in terms of complications and length of hospital stay between 2 groups. Conclusions. 1. Performing Total Knee Arthroplasty with preoperative and postoperative ivtranexamic acid and without drain decreased postoperative reduction in Hb level on the day after surgery in the current study. 2. But blood loss and blood transfusion rates when compared to patients with drain, no significant difference was found. 3. Drain use in knee replacements does not offer an advantage over drainless TKAs regarding the findings of our study. 4. Future studies with longer follow-up are needed in our opinion.