Doxycycline Use in Post-Operative Seromas

Plain-language summary

Seromas are collections of serous fluid that can develop following surgical procedures and may persist as fibrous-lined pseudocysts if not adequately treated. In orthopedic surgery, particularly after arthroplasty, seromas can impair wound healing, increase pain, and limit postoperative rehabilitation, potentially compromising patient recovery. Current treatment strategies including compression, percutaneous aspiration, and repeat surgical intervention have variable success, and aspiration carries the risk of introducing bacteria into an otherwise sterile fluid collection. Sclerotherapy has been proposed as an alternative strategy to induce fibrosis within the cavity and eliminate the potential space. Doxycycline, a tetracycline antibiotic commonly used for pleurodesis, has demonstrated sclerosing properties through mechanisms including mesothelial cell destruction, inhibition of fibrinolysis, and stimulation of fibroblast activity. While doxycycline sclerotherapy has shown success in treating conditions such as Morel-Lavallée lesions and has been described in isolated orthopedic case reports, its role in managing postoperative seromas after arthroplasty remains poorly studied. Further investigation is needed to determine whether doxycycline injection may serve as a safe and effective treatment to reduce persistent seromas and the need for additional interventions in orthopedic patients.

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