Advances in wound closure

Abstract

The success of total knee arthroplasty can be jeopardized by wound-healing complications. This statement has been supported by a large retrospective study from Mayo Clinic that showed patient with early superficial wound complications requiring surgical intervention after primary total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) had an increased 2-year cumulative probabilities of major subsequent surgery and deep infection compared with patient without early surgical intervention, 5.3% and 6.0% versus 0.6% and 0.8%, respectively [1]. Many techniques and modalities have been incorporated in the practice of joint replacement surgeons with the intent to reduce wound complication, drainage, and subsequent infection. Often, these modalities are borrowed from other specialities and have not been validated in orthopedics. This chapter will review the most recent literature regarding wound managements related with TKAs and total knee revisions (TKRs) and will discuss our current practice.