We focused on the effects of iron treatment as part of a broader strategy for managing blood loss and pain in patients undergoing staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) within a single hospital stay. In our study, we compared two groups of patients: one receiving a newly introduced multimodal blood management (MBM) approach that included preoperative oral iron treatment, and a control group that only received standard care.
Our findings were promising. The group treated with the MBM protocol experienced significantly lower rates of blood transfusion—only 9% of patients required one—compared to 32.4% in the control group. This approach not only reduced the need for additional blood transfusions but also led to improvements in postoperative hemoglobin levels and reduced pain and swelling in the knees after surgery.
The results suggest that incorporating iron treatment in a comprehensive management program can effectively help alleviate knee pain and enhance recovery from surgery. Best of all, this was achieved without leading to any significant complications, indicating a safe and economical option for improving outcomes in TKA patients.
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