Use of a tourniquet in the internal fixation of fractures of the distal part of the fibula. A prospective, randomized trial.
A prospective, randomized trial was undertaken to determine the rate of complications after the use of a tourniquet during open reduction and internal fixation of simple, closed fractures of the distal part of the fibula. Forty patients were operated on with use of a tourniquet (Group 1) and forty patients, without use of a tourniquet (Group 2). The average duration of the operation was significantly different between the two groups (41 +/- 9 minutes for Group 1 compared with 53 +/- 12 minutes for Group 2 [p = 0.026]). There were more complications in the patients in Group 1, two of whom had an isolated deep-vein thrombosis of the calf. The wound was possibly infected in eleven patients (seven in Group 1 and four in Group 2 [p < 0.05]) and frankly infected in three patients, all in Group 1 (p < 0.05). The plaster-of-Paris cast needed to be changed in three patients from Group 1. The patients in Group 1 returned to work an average of one week later than those in Group 2. The mean duration of follow-up was eighteen months (range, nine to thirty-two months). Given the lower prevalence of postoperative complications and the shorter time to recovery for the patients in Group 2, we believe that it is justified not to use a tourniquet in the operative treatment of simple, isolated fibular fractures.
Maffulli
N
N
First Institute of Orthopaedics, University of Naples, First Medical School, Italy.
Testa
V
V
Capasso
G
G
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005360:Fibula / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods; D005596:Fractures, Closed / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014111:Tourniquets / Q000009:adverse effects*