ABSTRACT
Purpose: Compressive hip dressings have been used to decrease the amount of postoperative bleeding after total hiparthroplasty. However, there is no data showing that a compressive dressing is effective. This study evaluated the effect of compressive dressings on the level of postoperative bleeding after total replacement arthroplasty. Materials and Methods: This prospective randomized clinical trail included 80 consecutive primary total hip arthroplasties in 72 patients. The 80 hips were randomly assigned to a compressive dressing group or a non-compressive dressing group using a table of random numbers. Forty-two hips in 37 patients were treated using the compressive dressing and the remaining 38 hips in 35 patients were treated using a non-compressive dressing. The patients were followed up for an average of 10.3 months. In all patients, a hemovac suction drain was inserted postoperatively. Results: The mean level of bleeding was 626.6 mL in the compressive group and 693.8 mL in the non-compressive group. There was no statistical difference between the two groups (P=0.416). Moreover, the incidence of postoperative complications including dislocation, nerve injury, symptomatic deep vein thrombosis and heterotopic ossification was similar in both groups. Conclusion: These results suggest that the compressive dressing has no significant effect on the amount of postoperative bleeding and clinical results after total hip arthroplasty.