Does Tourniquet Use in TKA Affect Recovery of Lower Extremity Strength and Function? A Randomized Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Tourniquet use during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) improves visibility and reduces intraoperative blood loss. However, tourniquet use may also have a negative impact on early recovery of muscle strength and lower extremity function after TKA.

Questions/purposes

The purpose of this study was (1) to determine whether tourniquet use affects recovery of quadriceps strength (primary outcome) during the first 3 postoperative months; and (2) to examine the effects of tourniquet application on secondary outcomes: voluntary quadriceps activation, hamstring strength, unilateral limb balance as well as the effect on operative time and blood loss.

Methods

Twenty-eight patients (mean age 62 ± 6 years; 16 men) undergoing same-day bilateral TKA (56 lower extremities) wer

SUBMITTER: Dennis DA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4686529 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature