153 patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty were randomized to undergo the operation with either a conventional suction drain, an autologous blood transfusion drain, or no drain. There was no significant difference in drainage between the suction drain group and the autologous transfusion drain group. Patients receiving no drain had a lower rate of allogeneic transfusion and wounds that dried significantly sooner compared to patients with suction drains. Patients with no drain also had a significantly shorter stay in hospital compared to the suction drain group.