title: Investigation of safety and efficacy of a pneumatic finger tourniquet.
abstract: Finger tourniquets are widely used in hand surgery. However, they do not provide an estimate of the amount of pressure exerted and can potentially be left in situ with grave consequences. We assessed the pneumatic finger tourniquet in 57 adult patients in operations under local anaesthesia distal to the proximal interphalangeal joint. The average tourniquet time was 12 minutes. The tourniquet maintained its pressure for the length of the operation in 96.5% of cases. This airtight flat tubing is made of synthetic polymer, designed and manufactured by Barloworld Scientific Ltd (Staffordshire, UK). The tourniquet was easy to use and easily located after the operation. No complications were reported. This study supports the use of a pneumatic tourniquet in finger injuries requiring use of a finger tourniquet.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Birmingham, Selly Oak Hospital, Raddlebarn Road, Birmingham, B29 6JD, UK.
authors.forename: Mubashir H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Cheema
authors.forename: Syed N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chukwulobelu
authors.forename: Francis C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Peart
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004209:Disposable Equipment; D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011312:Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014111:Tourniquets / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult