Blood loss after total hip replacement: a prospective randomized study between wound compression and drainage

Abstract

A randomized, controlled study compared the effects of wound compression with drainage after primary total hip arthroplasty. In 51 patients, an inflatable cuff was placed over the wound underneath a girdle (System Calmed, Calmed AB, Askim, Sweden). Control patients had wound drainage (n = 54). Preoperative and intraoperative variables did not differ between groups. Total blood loss was calculated using hemoglobin balance; with compression it was 1510 +/- 656 mL (mean +/- SD) and in controls 1695 +/- 712 mL (P = .13). However, less blood was transfused in the compression group (P = .05). Wound infection was seen in 2 patients with compression and in 3 controls. Deep venous thrombosis occurred in 3 controls. Wound discharge was more frequent in controls (19/54 vs 8/51; P = .04). Thus, wound compression had no obvious negative effects and reduced wound discharge and need for transfusion. It may replace drainage after total hip arthroplasty.