The effects of manipulation styles of tourniquet on blood loss and operation time in total knee arthroplasty

Objective To explore the effects of manipulation styles of tourniquet on blood loss in total knee arthroplasty(TKA).Methods From May 2006 to April 2009,88 patients underwent primary unilateral TKA.46 patients were initiated with tourniquet when operation was started and 42 patients were initiated with it when the prosthesis was installated.Operation time,tourniquet time,the volume of intraoperative blood loss,and postoperative drainage were recorded.The amount of total blood loss and the invisible blood loss were calculated.Results The average operation time of the group in which tourniquet initiated at the start of operation,was 95.9 minutes,and as for the group in which tourniquet initiated when the prosthesis was installed,the time was 98.2 minutes.In the volume of intraoperative blood loss,there was significant difference between the two groups(P0.05).The hidden blood loss had significant difference between both groups(P0.05).However,there were no difference in the operation time,and amount of total blood loss(P0.05).Conclusions The tourniquet initiated when operation starts can reduce intraoperative blood loss.However,postoperative blood loss,especially in hidden blood loss increased.There was no significant effect on total blood loss and operation time between different timing of tourniquet use.