[The use of a pneumatic tourniquet in total knee arthroplasty: a prospective, randomized study].
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.
Li
Bin
B
Department of Orthopaedics, Changzheng Hospital, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Qian
Qi-rong
QR
Wu
Hai-shan
HS
Zhao
Hui
H
Lin
Xiang-bo
XB
Zhu
Jun
J
Weng
Wei-feng
WF
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