Short versus standard duration tourniquet use during Total Knee Replacement: A pilot study

We performed a prospective, randomized, controlled trial to know whether a short duration of tourniquet application affects surgical time, post-operative swelling, pain, early rehabilitation and complications compared to standard use of tourniquet throughout the procedure. Sixty knees were randomized. There were no differences in terms of surgical time and pain experienced between the two groups. Patients in the short duration tourniquet group had significantly less thigh swelling (3.7±1.6 versus 4.8±2.35 p<0.01). There were no differences in the early rehabilitation between the groups. Soft tissue complications were higher in standard duration group. The use of tourniquet only during cementation of the implants reduces the thigh swelling and soft tissue complications associated with tourniquet use throughout the procedure.