Blood loss in sequential bilateral total knee arthroplasty.

Abstract

This study was devised to determine whether blood loss for sequential bilateral knee arthroplasties was the same for the first and second knees. Twenty-eight patients who underwent this procedure were studied along with a control group of patients who underwent unilateral knee arthroplasties. Blood loss was greater in the second knee by a mean of 323 mL (P < .05). The control group and the first knee showed no significant difference in blood loss. Analysis of clotting studies showed a prolongation of prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and thrombin time after release of the first tourniquet. Possible reasons for this greater blood loss are discussed.