Reductions in blood loss with use of a bipolar sealer for hemostasis in primary total knee arthroplasty.

Fifty primary total knee arthroplasties were performed in a prospective, randomized study comparing the use of a bipolar sealer device versus conventional electrocautery as the method of hemostasis. Both cohorts were evaluated for intraoperative blood loss, transfusion rate, postoperative drainage, hemoglobin levels, and Knee Society scores. A significant reduction in postoperative and total blood loss was found (p = 0.05 and p = 0.02, respectively), as well as an absence of tissue charring and smoke production in the bipolar sealer group. No difference in knee scores was found between both cohorts. These results suggest that use of this bipolar sealing device is at least as effective as standard cautery devices and can reduce blood loss, tissue damage, and smoke production in total knee arthroplasties without affecting the results.

Duke Scholars

Author Thorsten Markus Seyler Orthopaedic Surgery