Factors affecting wound ooze in total knee replacement |
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Authors: | U Butt R Ahmad D Aspros GC Bannister |
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Affiliation: | 1Yeovil District Hospital, Bristol, UK;2Weston General Hospital, Weston-Super-Mare, UK;3Cambridge University Hospital, Cambridge, UK;4Avon Orthopaedic Centre, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK |
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Abstract: | INTRODUCTIONWound ooze is common following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and persistent wound infection is a risk factor for infection, and increased length and cost of hospitalisation.PATIENTS AND METHODSWe undertook a prospective study to assess the effect of tourniquet time, peri-articular local anaesthesia and surgical approach on wound oozing after TKA.RESULTSThe medial parapatellar approach was used in 59 patients (77%) and subvastus in 18 patients (23%). Peri-articular local anaesthesia (0.25% Bupivacaine with 1:1,000,000 adrenalin) was used in 34 patients (44%). The mean tourniquet time was 83 min (range, 38–125 min). We found a significant association between cessation of oozing and peri-articular local anaesthesia (P = 0.003), length of the tourniquet time (P = 0.03) and the subvastus approach (P = 0.01).CONCLUSIONSPeri-articular local anaesthesia, the subvastus approach and shorter tourniquet time were all associated with less wound oozing after total knee arthroplasty. |
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Keywords: | Total knee arthroplasty Wound ooze Tourniquet Subvastus approach |
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