Closed suction drainage offers no more clinical benefit than non-drainage after primary total knee arthroplasty with the administration of tranexamic acid in Chinese patients

BACKGROUND: If closed suction drainage (CSD) should be used after primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA), remains controversial. The current study aimed to explore whether CSD offers more clinical benefit with the administration of tranexamic acid in Chinese patients. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 200 patients who had received TKA. One hundred patients were placed on drainage after TKA, whereas the rest of 100 patients were not. Multiple clinical parameters were dynamically monitored and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The length of the hospitalization days was significantly shorter in patients who did not receive CSD (6.0 ± 0.8 vs. 7.0 ± 0.8 days, p < 0.001). The patients in the drainage group had more Hb drop on the first postoperative day (14.82 ± 6.58 vs. 11.27 ± 5.71 g/L, p < 0.001). No statistically significant difference was observed in VAS score, ROM and thigh circumference at baseline during the follow-up between two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Additional drainage after primary TKA had no clinical benefit after the tranexamic acid had already been administered during the treatment.