The use of a tourniquet when plating tibial fractures.
Sixty closed fractures of the tibia were treated by open reduction and internal fixation with plates and screws. Half the operations were performed with a thigh tourniquet and half without. In the tourniquet group, there were six cases with erythema and induration of the wound; in the other group there were no such complications. Despite negative bacterial cultures, superficial infection of the inflamed wounds was suspected. It is suggested that a tourniquet may predispose tissues to infection, and its use is not recommended during operations for internal fixation of the tibia.
Salam
A A
AA
Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, England.
Eyres
K S
KS
Cleary
J
J
el-Sayed
H H
HH
D000328:Adult; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology*; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D014111:Tourniquets