Abstracts Posters SICOT-SOF meeting Gothenburg 2010 _2_

Poster
Topic: Arthroplasty - Knee
Abstract number: 24044
TOURNIQUET USE IN TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY
Ta-Wei TAI 1 , Chyun-Yu YANG 2 , Chih-Wei CHANG 2
1 Department of Orthopaedics, National Cheng Kung University Medical Center and
Buddhist Dalin Tzu-Chi General Hospital, Tainan (TAIWAN), 2 Department of
Orthopaedics, National Cheng Kung University Medical Center, Tainan (TAIWAN)
Using intraoperative tourniquet for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a common
practice. However, its effectiveness is still questionable. We conducted a randomized
controlled trial to examine the role of using tourniquet in TKA. Eighty patients were
allocated randomly to two groups (with and without tourniquet). TKAs were done
without postoperative suction drainage. Blood loss was estimated with hemoglobin
and hematocrit levels. We also checked preoperative and postoperative creatinine,
GOT, myoglobulin, LDH, ESR, CRP for markers of soft tissue injury. Postoperative
thigh pain, knee pain, limb swelling and rehabilitation status were recorded for
comparison. The results revealed that hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were higher
in tourniquet group in postoperative day 1 and day 2. However, the difference
diminished in postoperative day 4. The tourniquet group revealed less operation time
and intraoperative blood loss. There were no significant difference regarding soft
tissue markers, pain and rehabilitation. We concluded that performing TKA with using
tourniquet might reduce blood loss without causing significantly more soft tissue
injury. Using tourniquet in TKA is still a good method to reduce blood loss and
facilitate surgery.
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