To investigate the effect of intraoperative placement of intra-articular drainage on postoperative blood loss and functional recovery in computer-navigated total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

A total of 100 patients who underwent primary unilateral computer-navigated TKA at our hospital between October 2022 and December 2023 were included. Patients were divided into a drainage group (50 cases) and a non-drainage group (50 cases) based on whether a negative-pressure drainage tube was placed before wound closure, with all other treatments being identical. All 100 patients were followed up for 10-24 months (mean 15.39±4.46 months). The cohort included 19 males and 81 females, with a mean age of 66.90±6.43 years in the drainage group and 66.04±6.32 years in the non-drainage group. Postoperative blood loss, joint functional indicators, and complications were compared between the two groups, followed by statistical analysis.

① No statistically significant difference was found in hidden blood loss or total blood loss between the two groups (P>0.05). ② Repeated measures ANOVA of knee range of motion (ROM) on postoperative day 3, month 3, and month 6, as well as HSS scores and WOMAC scores preoperatively and at months 3 and 6, revealed no significant intergroup differences and no interaction between group and time points. Significant differences were observed across time points. ③ No statistically significant differences were found in postoperative wound exudation duration, hospital stay, or complication rates (P>0.05). ④ All incisions healed primarily without complications in both groups.

Placement of a drainage tube after computer-navigated TKA has no significant effect on postoperative blood loss, functional recovery of the knee joint, or the incidence of postoperative complications.