Objective To compare the effects of adjustable pressure drainage device, negative pressure ball drainage and drainage bag drainage on patients with the total hip arthroplasty. Methods The silicone drainage ball with negative pressure, the urine collection bag, the infusion set′s regulator were used to make adjustable pressure drainage device. 120 cases of total hip arthroplasties from January to December in 2015 were chosed and divided randomly into 3 groups based on the sequence of operation notifications. In 40 cases, drainage bag were used (control group 1), 40 cases with negative pressure ball drainage (control group 2) and 40 cases with adjustable pressure drainage device (experimental group). Total postoperative bleeding, the blood transfusion amount, swelling (the thickness of hematoma) and the nursing workload of the three groups were compared. Results The total postoperative bleeding, the blood transfusion amount, the thickness of hematoma and the nursing workload in the experimental group were (775.1±130.5) ml, (3.5±1.3) mm, (180.2±29.9) ml, (34.5±5.2) min. The total postoperative bleeding, the blood transfusion amount, the thickness of hematoma and the nursing workload in the control group 1 were (889.4 ± 160.8) ml, (5.2 ± 1.1) mm, (285.9 ± 30.4) ml, (40.6 ± 7.4) min and in the control group 2 were (876.2±156.7) ml, (4.3±1.2) mm,(208.3±33.3) ml, (50.3±8.5) min. Compared the data of the experimental group and the control group 1, the difference was of statistically significance (t=3.49-15.68, P < 0.01). Compared the data of the experimental group and the control group 2, the difference was of statistically significance (t=2.86-10.03, P<0.01). Conclusions The effects of adjustable pressure drainage device are better than the drainage bag and negative pressure drainage ball. It can effectively reduce the postoperative bleeding and the swelling degree, and bring a lot of relief to the patients and lots of convenience to the nursing work. The method is affordable, reliable and safe which should be promoted in the primary hospital.