BLOOD-LOSS IN SEQUENTIAL BILATERAL TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY

This study was devised to determine whether blood loss for sequential bilateral knee arthroplasties was the same for the first and second kn ees. Twenty-eight patients who underwent this procedure were studied a long with a control group of patients who underwent unilateral knee ar throplasties. Blood loss was greater in the second knee by a mean of 3 23 mL (P < .05). The control group and the first knee showed no signif icant difference in blood loss. Analysis of clotting studies showed a prolongation of prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin lim e, and thrombin time after release of the first tourniquet. Possible r easons for this greater blood loss are discussed.