Efficacy of Postoperative Suction Drainage in Total Hip Arthroplasty.

The closed suction drainage of wounds after total hip arthroplasty has become an established routine procedure, with the aim of preventing wound hematomas and thereby reducing wound complications and infection.A prospective evaluation of 40 hips in 39 patients who had undergone total hip arthroplasty was conducted to assess the effect of postoperative suction drainage. No suction drain was placed by randomization in 16 hips.Statistical analysis of the results showed no statistically significant differences between the drained and undrained group in decrease in hemoglobin, wound healing, and progressive of rehabilitation. We concluded that the use of routine postoperative suction drainage in uncomplicated total hip arthroplasty provides no apparent advantage.