[Technical defects of tourniquet manometers]

The use of a tourniquet causes in 0.013% to 1.15% complications (e.g. delayed wound healing, increased rate of infections, thrombosis, pulmonary embolisms,rhabdomyolysis, and compartment syndromes). The rate of these complications depends on the applied pressure, the duration and the cuff design. Also a technical defect of the pressure gauge can lead to complications. A patient with a peroneal palsy after the use of a tourniquet was referred to the Department for Trauma Surgery of the Medical School of the University of Vienna for medical evidence. As there were no reports in the literature about the occurrence rate of technical defects of tourniquet manometers, we checked all tourniquet pressure gauges used at our clinic. Six from eleven gauges were defect and had to be replaced. To minimize the risk for our patients we recommend to check the calibration of the pressure gauges periodically. With regard to the used pressure rate and duration only different recommendations can be found in literature.