Modified Robert Jones Bandage in reducing blood loss in total knee arthroplasty: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to assess the effects of Modified Robert Jones Bandage (MRJB) in primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). All RCTs were compared to receive either MRJB (study group) or conventional wound dressing (control group) in TKA. Statistical analysis was assessed using RevMan 5.3 software. RESULTS: A total of 5 RCTs involving 362 patients were included in the meta-analysis. No significant difference between the 2 groups was found in terms of total blood loss (Mean difference [MD], –25.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], –90.52 to 39.70; P = .44), intra-operative blood loss (MD, –13.77; 95% CI, –31.84 to 4.29; P = .14), drain blood loss (MD, 0.83; 95% CI, –30.07 to 31.72; P = .96), and transfusion rate (risk ratio, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.55–1.64; P = .86); There was also no significant difference in terms of range of motion (MD, –0.93; 95% CI, –3.64 to 1.79; P = .50), visual analog scale pain sores (MD, –0.02; 95% CI, –0.34 to 0.30; P = .90), and operative time (MD, –3.12; 95% CI, –13.42 to 7.18; P = .55), without increasing the risk of wound-related complications (risk ratio, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.27–2.08; P = .58) in both groups. No deep venous thrombosis occurred in all studies. CONCLUSIONS: The current meta-analysis of the available evidence indicates patients with MRJB had not required the additional advantage compared to the conventional wound dressing for TKA. However, more high-quality studies are needed to confirm the above conclusions. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I, therapeutic study.