title: [The use of a pneumatic tourniquet in total knee arthroplasty: a prospective, randomized study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the value of the use of a pneumatic tourniquet in total knee arthroplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty patients were prospectively randomized into 2 groups, one group underwent total knee replacement with a tourniquet (n = 30) and one without (n = 30). Operating time, blood loss, postoperative mean morphine requirement, swelling, ecchymosis, earlier straight-leg raising and postoperative knee flexion were measured in both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in the total blood loss between the 2 groups although the intraoperative blood loss was significantly greater in those without a tourniquet. The mean morphine requirement, postoperative swelling, scope of ecchymosis, earlier straight-leg raising and postoperative knee flexion in the patients that had surgery without a tourniquet were significantly better than those with a tourniquet.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knee arthroplasty operation with the use of a tourniquet has only small benefits on the total blood loss, but hinder in patients' early postoperative rehabilitation exercises.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Changzheng Hospital, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qi-rong
authors.initials: QR
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Hai-shan
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xiang-bo
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Wei-feng
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Weng
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014111:Tourniquets / Q000009:adverse effects