Objective To investigate the effect of applying a tourniquet on perioperative blood loss and short-term effectiveness in primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods A total of 94 patients (94 knees) with osteoarthritis underwent primary TKA between September 2010 and December 2011, whose data met the inclusion criteria and were retrospectively analyzed. A tourniquet was used in 51 cases (group A), no tourniquet in 43 cases (group B). There was no significant difference in gender, age, affected side, body mass index, preoperative hemoglobin (Hb) level, range of motion (ROM), visual analogue scale (VAS), Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score, Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). The data were compared between 2 groups, including hematocrit (Hct), Hb, hidden blood loss, dominant blood loss, theoretical total blood loss, the operation time, hospitalization days, increasing rate of circumference length above 10 cm of the knee, VAS score, ROM, HSS score, and WOMAC score. Results Four cases (7.84%) of group A and 1 case (2.33%) of group B received blood transfusions, showing no significant difference (χ2=1.410, P=0.235). There was no significant difference in the Hb and Hct between 2 groups at 2 days after operation (P gt; 0.05). The dominant blood loss of group A was significantly less than that of group B (P lt; 0.05), while the hidden blood loss of group A was significantly more than that of group B (P lt; 0.05), but there was no significant difference in theoretical total blood loss between 2 groups (t=0.662, P=0.510). The operation time, hospitalization days, and VAS score at 3 days showed no significant difference between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). The wound healed by first intention after operation without related complication. At 3 days after operation, the increasing rate of circumference length above 10 cm of the knee in group A was significantly higher than that of group B (t=9.435, P=0.000), but no significant difference at 7 days (t=0.462, P=0.645). At 3 and 5 days after operation, the ROM values in group B were significantly larger than those of group A (P lt; 0.05), but no significant difference at 7 days (t= — 1.279, P=0.204). The patients were all followed up 12-18 months (mean, 14.3 months). There was no significant difference in the HSS score between 2 groups at 1 year after operation (t=0.952, P=0.344), but significant difference was found in the WOMAC score between 2 groups (t= — 2.488, P=0.015). The X-ray films showed that the prosthesis was in good position, without loosening, subsidence, or osteolysis. Conclusion Application of a tourniquet in TKA increases hidden blood loss, and there is no obvious advantage in reducing transfusion rate compared with the non-tourniquet group, so it is recommended to reduce the time and pressure of the tourniquet for patients with high-risk of thrombosis.
ObjectiveTo clarify the effects of tourniquet use on pain, early rehabilitation, blood loss, incidence rate of thrombosis in primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) through a randomized controlled trial. MethodBetween Janurary 2014 and August 2015, 168 patients with knee osteoarthritis undergoing primary TKA were randomly allocated to tourniquet group (n=84) or non-tourniquet group (n=82) . There was no significant difference in gender, age, body mass index, affected side, osteoarthritis grading, disease duration, preoperative range of motion (ROM), visual analogue scale (VAS), Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score, and hemoglobin (Hb) between 2 groups (P>0.05) . The operation time, hospitalization time, 90°knee flexion time, straight leg lifting time, and ambulation time were compared between 2 groups. Intraoperative blood loss, Hb decrease, postoperative VAS score, HSS score, ROM, and postoperative complications were recorded and compared. ResultsThere was no significant difference in operation time (t=-1.353, P=0.178) . The patients were followed up 3-20 months (mean, 12 months) in tourniquet group, and 3-22 months (mean, 13 months) in non-tourniquet group. No significant difference was found in Hb decrease (t=-1.855, P=0.066) and transfusion rate (23.81% of tourniquest group vs. 25.61% of non-tourniquest group) (χ2=0.072, P=0.788) between 2 groups. Significant difference was found in the incidence rate of thrombosis between tourniquet and non-tourniquet groups (10.71% vs. 2.44%) (χ2=4.592, P=0.032) , and the intraoperative blood loss of tourniquet group was significantly less than that of non-tourniquet group (t=-16.066, P=0.000) . The 90°knee flexion time, straight leg lifting time, ambulation time, and hospitalization time of tourniquet group were significantly later than those of non-tourniquet group (P<0.05) . The tourniquet group had significantly higher VAS score at 3, 5, 7, and 14 days after operation (P<0.05) and lower HSS score at 28 days after operation (t=-4.192, P=0.000) than non-tourniquet group, but there was no significant difference in the ROM between 2 groups (t=0.676, P=0.500) . ConclusionsThe use of a tourniquet during TKA will increase knee pain and thrombotic events, but can not decrease total blood loss and transfusion rate. A tourniquet use during TKA is unfavorable for early rehabilitation progress.
Objective To investigate the safety and feasibility of preoperative non-indwelling catheter in primary unilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) without tourniquet . Methods From January 2016 to January 2017, a total of 60 patients undergoing primary unilateral TKA surgery were randomly divided into preoperative non-indwelling catheter group (group NIC, n=30) and indwelling catheter group (group IC, n=30) . The patients in group NIC were not retained catherter, and the patients in group IC were retained catherter. All patients did not use tourniquet. The time of first urination, the volume of first urination, and the occurrence of urine retention, urinary irritation symptoms and urinary tract infection of patients in two groups were analyzed. The incidence of venous thrombosis of the lower extremity was also recorded. Results There were statistical differences (P<0.05) between group NIC and group IC in the time of first urination [(3.2±0.6) vs. (4.5±1.8) hours] and urine volume [(262.5±29.4) vs. (391.6±50.2) mL], but there was no significant difference (P>0.05) between the two groups in urinary retention (6.7% vs. 16.7%), urinary tract irritation (33.3% vs. 23.3%), or urinary tract infection (0.0% vs. 16.7%). Conclusion Preoperative non-indwelling catheter in primary unilateral TKA without tourniquet is safe and feasible.