Tourniquet Use in Arthroscopic ACL Reconstruction: A Blinded Randomized Trial

Despite knowing, that tourniquet induces ischemia and soft tissue damage surgeons still use it. The purpose of this study is to compare post operative pain and quadriceps function in patients undergoing arthroscopy assisted ACL reconstruction with tourniquet and without tourniquet.

A blinded randomized prospective trial conducted at Orthopaedic department of a tertiary institute in India from Feb 2019 to June 2019. 45 patients undergoing Arthroscopic ACL reconstruction aged between 18 and 60 years were recruited in the study according to selection criteria. Patients were distributed in 2 groups randomly, namely, tourniquet and non-tourniquet. Preoperatively serum CPK measurement and thigh girth measurement was done. Following standard arthroscopic procedure VAS score monitoring for pain was done for 5 days. Serum CPK levels were performed on postoperative day 1. Thigh girth was measured on postoperative day 21.

Pain was significantly high in patients in whom tourniquet was used. VAS scores were significantly high in tourniquet group. Tourniquet group patients required more amount of additional analgesics in postoperative period (p < 0.001). Serum CPK levels were comparable preoperatively while significantly high postoperatively in tourniquet group (p < 0.001). Difference in mean of thigh girth was significant between the groups (p < 0.001) and there is difficulty experienced by patients in performing straight leg raise test after tourniquet use (p = 0.002).

Tourniquet use is associated with increased pain, analgesic requirement, damage to muscles and compromises muscle function in early postoperative period. This can not only lead to increased patient discomfort but also difficult initial rehabilitation. Arthroscopic procedures can be uneventfully performed without the use of a tourniquet, and alternative methods should be looked upon and emphasized.