title: Patterns of free-radical production after tourniquet ischemia: implications for the hand surgeon.
abstract: Since use of the pneumatic tourniquet is standard procedure for the hand surgeon, ischemic and reperfusion injury is a risk. To determine optimal periods of ischemia, 100 rabbit hindlimbs were subjected to various ischemic insults and analyzed for malondialdehyde (an indicator of free-radical production). Group 1 (3 hours of continuous ischemia) had 12.5 percent more reperfusion damage than controls (p less than 0.05). Group 2 (three 1-hour ischemic insults) had 10 percent more damage than controls (p less than 0.05). Group 3 (two 90-minute ischemic episodes) had 21 percent more damage than controls (p = 0.0001). Group 4 (4 1/2 hours of continuous ischemia) had 14.5 percent more damage than controls (p less than 0.01). Group 5 (three 90-minute ischemic episodes) had 10.8 percent more damage than controls (p less than 0.01). Group 6 (6 hours of continuous ischemia) had 17.5 percent more damage than controls (p less than 0.002). Group 7 (four 90-minute ischemic episodes) had 14 percent more damage than controls (p less than 0.01). Group 8 (three 2-hour ischemic episodes) had 22.5 percent more damage than controls (p less than 0.003). And group 9 (two 3-hour ischemic episodes) had 42 percent more damage than controls (p less than 0.0001). These results suggest a direct correlation in reperfusion injury with duration of tourniquet ischemia. Additionally, allowing specific reperfusion periods in some groups ultimately increased the amount of reperfusion injury.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Concannon
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Kester
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Welsh
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Puckett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000097:blood*; D006225:Hand / Q000601:surgery; D006614:Hindlimb; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D010545:Peroxides / Q000097:blood; D011817:Rabbits; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013997:Time Factors; D014111:Tourniquets / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals; D010545:Peroxides; D008315:Malondialdehyde