title: Lateral traction during shoulder arthroscopy: its effect on tissue perfusion measured by pulse oximetry.
abstract: We studied the effect of three methods of shoulder traction during arthroscopy on arterial oxygen saturation measured by a pulse oximeter applied to the fingertip of the arm in traction. Simple longitudinal traction ablated the oxygen saturation in only 1 of 30 patients. Adding vertical traction perpendicular to the arm ablated the oxygen saturation in 25 of 30 patients when a 2-inch wide sling was used and in 7 of 30 patients when a 4-inch sling was used. In this series, the pulse oximeter did not demonstrate gradual gradations in arterial oxygen saturation loss. Rather, the pulse oximeter provided an all-or-none warning signal for tissue hypoxia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Clinical Investigation, Naval Hospital, San Diego, California 92134-5000, USA.
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Hennrikus
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Mapes
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Bratton
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lapoint
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D010092:Oximetry; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012782:Shoulder / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery*; D014143:Traction / Q000379:methods*