The role of fibrin sealants in orthopaedic surgery.

Blood conservation, specifically the avoidance of allogeneic blood transfusion, is becoming an important aspect of preoperative planning and intraoperative decision making in orthopaedic surgery. Knee and hip arthroplasty, as well as certain spine procedures, place patients at risk of significant blood loss. Fibrin sealants are topically applied hemostatic agents that reduce the time required to achieve hemostasis as well as the volume of blood loss. Fibrin sealants may provide additional benefits beyond hemostasis, such as improvements in wound healing and postoperative range of motion as well as lower rates of wound infections.