NCT02693457

Outcomes Following Suction Drain and Non-suction Drain Assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 29 (actual)
• Sponsor: Colorado Joint Replacement · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 70 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This randomized controlled trial is designed to determine the effect of suction drain usage on the reduction of postoperative swelling following total knee replacement. Furthermore, this study will determine the relationship between postoperative swelling and quadriceps muscle function. This study will be performed in a cohort of patients undergoing bilateral total knee replacement and the suction intra-articular drain will be randomized to one of the two operative knees prior to surgery.

Detailed description

This study has two primary aims: 1) to determine the effects of intra-articular suction drain use, placed during total knee arthroplasty (TKA), on postoperative knee joint effusion, which is the collection of fluid in the joint capsule, and lower extremity swelling compared to a TKA without the use of an intra-articular drain and, 2) to describe the relationship between postoperative lower extremity swelling and quadriceps function (strength and activation). The use of intra-articular drains during TKA surgery has been highly disputed, due to the fear of increasing risk of infection from a secondary incision site, however, past studies have found no increased risk of complication from drain use. Furthermore, studies have shown that drain use may reduce the amount of hidden blood loss, or blood that is collected in the intra-articular space. Of interest, effusion may be associated with decreased quadriceps function. Previous research examining the influence of knee effusion on quadriceps function has shown that with laboratory-induced acute knee effusion, quadriceps activation and force production are reduced. However, previous findings lack the ability to inform care for patients following TKA due to the acute nature of the effusion and the inability to translate findings from healthy individuals to a clinical population. This study has the potential to greatly improve care for patients undergoing TKA by informing the surgical procedure while also providing important evidence for the influence of postoperative swelling on quadriceps muscle function. In order to maintain patient blinding, a non-functional subcutaneous drain will be placed in the non-randomized knee. Patients will be blinded to any fluid output from the intra-articular drain. A medial parapatellar approach will be utilized for exposure of the knee. All TKAs will be performed using a gap balancing technique with substitution of the posterior collateral ligament (PCL). In all cases, a tensioning device will be used to establish balanced, symmetrical flexion and extension spaces. All TKA procedures will utilize cemented implants. Randomly assigned drains (intra-articular or subcutaneous) will be placed in respective knees before closure. All patients will be treated with Tranexamic Acid intravenously to standardize blood loss and effusion. All patients will be provided standard rehabilitation protocol during their inpatient stay. After hospital discharge, patients will be encouraged to receive outpatient physical therapy 2-3 times per week for 6 weeks.

Conditions

• Osteoarthritis
• Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Drain	One randomized knee will be assigned to receive an intra-articular drain procedure following bilateral total knee arthroplasty. The drain will be removed 24 hours post-operatively. The patient will be blinded to fluid output from intra-articular drain.
PROCEDURE	No Drain	The contralateral knee will be assigned to a placebo drain procedure following bilateral total knee arthroplasty. This will blind the patient as to which knee contains the functioning intra-articular drain. A non-suction/ non-functional subcutaneous drain will act as the placebo drain. This drain will not output any fluid and will also be removed 24 hours after post-operatively.

Timeline

• Start date: 2016-02-01
• Primary completion: 2017-12-29
• Completion: 2017-12-29
• First posted: 2016-02-26
• Last updated: 2018-07-17

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States