Prospective, Randomized Trial to Evaluate Efficacy of a Bipolar Sealer in Direct Anterior Approach Total Hip Arthroplasty

Total hip arthroplasty can be associated with substantial blood loss requiring allogenic transfusions. Intraoperative blood loss patterns in DAA differ from other approaches. This study evaluated the hemostatic efficacy of a bipolar sealer in DAA THA on surgical blood loss and transfusion requirements. 118 patients were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, double-blinded trial. Primary outcome measure was transfusion rate, while secondary measures included calculated blood loss. A lower transfusion rate was found in the treatment group (3.5 % vs 16.4%, P = .03). There were differences in Hemoglobin-drop (P = .04), calculated blood loss (P = .02), and hidden blood loss (P = .02), favoring the treatment group. The use of a bipolar sealer decreased intraoperative blood loss and transfusion requirements in the study population.