This is the first meta-analysis to assess the clinical efficiency, safety and potential advantages regarding the use of ABT drains compared with no drainage which is controversial in total knee arthroplasty (TKA).A comprehensive literature search was carried out in March 2015 using the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. A meta-analysis was carried out on two retrospective comparative studies (RCSs) and five randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The number of patients receiving homologous blood transfusion was the primary outcome of the meta-analysis; the secondary outcome measure was the mean drop in Hb level in comparison to the mean pre-operative HB level, the range of flexion of the knee joint, and infections of the wound after surgery. A total of 868 patients, who were included in two retrospective studies and five RCTs, were distributed into subgroups for the meta-analysis. This pooled data showed no benefit of ABT drainage compared no drainage in the homologous blood transfusion rate (13.05% and 16.91%, OR:0.73[0.47,1.13], Z=1.41, P=0.016;and 3.49% and 6.54%, OR: 0.50[0.12,2.01], Z=0.98,P=0.033,respectively in subgroups), Hb drop (Weight mean differences (WMD): 0.20[-0.28,0.68], Z=0.82,P=0.41;WMD:0.16[-0.41,0.55], Z=0.93, P=0.35, respectively), range of flexion of the knee joint (WMD:-0.82 [-3.35,1.70], Z=0.64,P=0.52)and wound infection (OR:0.25[0.61,10.20]; Z=1.28, p=0.2) after TKA surgery. Our findings do not recommend the routine use of postoperative ABT drainage in total knee arthroplasty. Well-designed RCTs with large sample sizes, longer term measures and extensive follow-up period should be performed in the future to update the findings of this study.