Objectives:
Tourniquet is used at total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for decreasing intra-operative blood loss and to provide a blood free exposure. However, there are many discrepancies for the ideal tourniquet technique. Our study aims to compare two tourniquet using techniques, throughout the surgery vs. only at the time of cementing components, by means of early blood loss retrospectively at TKA.
Materials and Methods:
Four hundred and seven patients were enrolled to our study where 153 of them were operated with tourniquet inflated for all the TKA surgery while 254 of them operated with the tourniquet inflated only at the time of cementation. Hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Htc), platelet (Plt), white blood cell counts for pre-operative and postoperative period and early postoperative need for blood transfusion data were extracted.
Results:
Results revealed that for both groups Hb, Htc and Plt levels drop postoperatively while the there was no difference in-between groups. Also, the need for blood transfusion was not significantly different.
Conclusion:
Our results confirm with the help of supplementary measures like tranexamic acid and hypotensive anesthesia tourniquet use for only cementing the components is effective as prolonged usage of tourniquet by means of early blood loss at TKA. We also believe this kind of tourniquet regimen will reduce complications.
Keywords: Knee Arthroplasty, Tourniquet, Blood Loss
