Tourniquet versus no tourniquet on knee-extension strength early after fast-track total knee arthroplasty; a randomized controlled trial

Thigh tourniquet is commonly used in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) but may contribute to pain and muscle damage. Consequently, the reduction in knee-extension strength after TKA may be caused by quadriceps muscle ischaemia underneath the cuff.

To examine if not using a thigh tourniquet during surgery was more effective than using a thigh tourniquet in preserving knee-extension strength 48 h after fast-track TKA.

A total of 64 patients undergoing TKA were randomized (1:1) to the use of tourniquet (T-group) or no tourniquet (NT-group). In the T-group the tourniquet cuff pressure was based on the patient’s systolic pressure and a margin of 100 mm Hg. It was inflated immediately before surgery and deflated as soon as surgery ended. The primary outcome was the change in knee-extension strength from pre-surgery to 48 h after surgery (primary end point). Secondary outcomes were pain, nausea, length of hospital stay (LOS) and periarticular swelling.

Knee-extension strength 48 h after surgery was substantially reduced by about 90% in both groups, with no statistically significant difference between groups (mean difference 1.5 N/kg, 95% CI 1.3–1.6). Among the secondary outcomes, the T-group had less bleeding during surgery (56 vs 182 mL, P < 0.01) compared with the NT-group. There was no difference in postoperative haemoglobin levels, pain, nausea, LOS or periarticular swelling between the groups.

Not using a thigh tourniquet during surgery was not superior in preserving knee-extension strength at the primary endpoint 48 h after fast-track TKA, compared to using a tourniquet.