PREDICTION OF WOUND HEALING IN TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY: TRANSCUTANEOUS OXYGEN TENSION IS MORE ACCURATE THAN DUPLEX ULTRASONOGRAPHY.

Aim: We have carried out a prospective study to compare duplex ultrasonography and transcutaneous oxygen tension as predictors of wound healing after knee arthroplasty. Methods and Materials : 53 patients were included in the study. All underwent pre-operative duplex scans of their lower limbs. In addition, transcutaneous oxygen tension measurements were made adjacent to the proposed incision pre-operatively and on days 1, 3 and 7 post knee arthroplasty. Wound healing was assessed using the ASEPSIS wound score. Results : 4 wounds had evidence of delayed wound healing. Duplex ultrasonography was a poor predictor of such problems; however there was a significant correlation between pre-operative transcutaneous oxygen tension and post-operative wound scores. Conclusion: Pre-operative transcutaneous oxygen tension measurement is a better predictor of wound healing after knee replacement surgery than duplex ultrasonograph, and may be a useful adjunct to the investigation of patients at risk of wound problems post knee arthroplasty.