A new bipolar blood sealing system embedded in perioperative strategies vs. a conventional regimen for total knee arthroplasty: results of a matched-pair study.

From a prospective matched-pair study in 40 patients it can be concluded that the use of a new bipolar sealer system for electrocoagulation is effective in Total Knee Arthroplasty in reducing the visible total blood loss until drain removal on day two after surgery by more than 28% as compared to a conventional regimen. Together with shed blood autotransfusion, it reduced homologous blood transfusions by a factor of five. No complications occurred. The system can be recommended for use in knee surgery during, after opening, and without use of a tourniquet. It bears additional potential for further applications in orthopaedic surgery.