Conclusions
A small dose of daily rhEPO from preoperative day 5 to postoperative day 3 could significantly decrease perioperative blood loss as well as slow the decline in postoperative Hb levels in TKA patients without causing additional complications, which was better than the dosing schedule from preoperative day 3 or from the day of surgery. In summary, we recommend a more practical and highly effective therapeutic plan of a small dose of daily subcutaneous rhEPO from preoperative day 5 to postoperative day 3 in patients who have undergone TKA.