Evaluating the benefits of using drainage tubes after high tibial osteotomy: A retrospective study.

ObjectiveThis study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of using drainage tubes after high tibial osteotomy.MethodsClinical data of 164 patients who underwent high tibial osteotomy were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups: group A, in which drainage tubes were not placed, and group B, in which drainage tubes were placed postoperatively. C-reactive protein, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels; hidden, visible, and total blood losses at 24 h postoperatively; visual analog scale scores at 24, 48, and 72 h postoperatively; complications; range of motion; Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis index at 6 months postoperatively; and differences in patellar diameter, edge of tibial tubercle diameter, and ankle diameter were compared.ResultsAt 24 h postoperatively, the hemoglobin and hematocrit levels in group A were significantly higher than those in group B. Total, hidden, and visible blood losses at 24 h postoperatively were significantly lower in group A than in group B. There were no significant differences in the other indices.ConclusionsThe findings suggested that using drainage tubes after high tibial osteotomy offered no evident advantages. In contrast, they increased postoperative blood loss, which is not conducive to early recovery.