OBJECTIVETo explore effective means of drainage after total hip arthroplasty (THA).

METHODSFrom March 2009 to September 2009, fifty patients who underwent primary total hip arthroplasty in one side were randomly divided into two groups. In the natural drainage group, there were 12 males and 13 females with a mean age of (58.0 +/- 15.2) years (from 23 to 79 years) and in the routine negative pressure drainage group there were 10 males and 15 females with a mean age of (55.0 +/- 17.8) years (from 30 to 75 years). The drainage volume, wound infection, abnormal exudation, the change of hemoglobin and the blood transfusion volume after operation were all observed and compared.

RESULTSThe wound of all patients in two groups got primary healing without infections. There were no differences in the changes of hemoglobin between the two groups (t = 0.532, P > 0.05). However, in the natural drainage group the drainage volume was much less than that in the routine negative pressure drainage group; moreover, less patients in this group needed blood transfusion. There were obvious differences in the two groups (t = 4.405, 2.496, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAfter THA, the natural drainage can decrease the volume of blood loss and incidence of transfusion, and can not increase the infection rate, making it an ideal and deserved popularized drainage method.