Published online Mar 18, 2024. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v15.i3.293
Peer-review started: December 14, 2023
First decision: December 23, 2023
Revised: December 26, 2023
Accepted: February 8, 2024
Article in press: February 8, 2024
Published online: March 18, 2024
Processing time: 90 Days and 15.3 Hours
Many studies compared pulse lavage to standard lavage in the setting of joint replacement but no meta-analysis is present to assess the overall utility of pulse lavage.
This study will be the first to assess the utility of pulse lavage in the setting of total hip and total knee replacements.
In the setting of hip replacement, we assessed the formation of heterotopic ossification whereas in knee replacement, we assessed the formation of radiolucent lines and functional outcomes.
PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar (page 1-20) were searched till December 2023 including only comparative studies comparing pulsed lavage to standard lavage in total knee or total hip replacements.
We found no difference in heterotopic ossification in hip replacement and no difference in functional outcomes in knee replacement. However, we found a reduction in the formation of radiolucent lines in total knee replacement.
We conclude that pulsed lavage may be beneficial in the setting of total knee replacement but has no added benefit in total hip replacement.
Future research should assess the costs/benefits of pulsed lavage in the setting of total joint replacement.