Short duration and low suction pressure drain versus no drain following total knee replacement.

Purpose: To compare the short-term outcome in patients with or without a drain (short duration and low suction pressure) following total knee replacement (TKR).

Methods: A consecutive series of 106 women and 48 men (mean age, 69 years) underwent unilateral TKR. The first 77 patients used a low suction pressure (200 mm Hg) drain following TKR for 24 hours, and the next 77 patients used no drain.