title: The timing of tourniquet release and its influence on blood loss after total knee arthroplasty.
abstract: We performed a prospective, randomized study on 76 patients (82 knees) scheduled for total knee arthroplasty to determine the effect of tourniquet release and hemostasis on the peri- and postoperative blood loss. Patients were randomly divided in two groups. Posterior cruciate retaining tricompartmental total knee prostheses were used in all. In group 1, the tourniquet was deflated intraoperatively after the prosthetic components were settled and hemostasis was done. In group 2, the tourniquet was released after the wound was closed and a compressive bandage was applied. Mean blood drainage was 880.85 ml (320-1,315) in group 1 and 745.36 ml (220-1,175) in group 2 ( p=0.03). The mean number of blood transfusions given, hemoglobin and hematocrit values, operation time, and tourniquet time were similar in both groups. Intraoperative tourniquet release and hemostasis does not reduce total blood loss in total knee arthroplasty.
authors.affiliation: Baskent University Medical Faculty, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Adana Medical Center, Dadaloglu mah, 39 sok No 6, 01250, Yuregir Adana, Turkey. mhersekli@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Murat Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hersekli
authors.forename: Sercan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akpinar
authors.forename: Gurkan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ozkoc
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozalay
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uysal
authors.forename: Necip
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cesur
authors.forename: Reha N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Tandogan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014111:Tourniquets