Use of tourniquet does not increase serum concentration of inflammatory mark-ers following total knee arthroplasty during the first 24 postoperative hours.

BACKGROUND

The literature on the systemic inflammatory reaction following tourniquet-induced ischemia and reperfusion in elective orthopedic surgery is limited.

METHODS

This prospective comparative study compared the levels of clinically relevant cytokines and peripheral blood counts and major complications in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with or without a tourniquet during the first postoperative day. Forty-three patients undergoing primary TKA for degenerative osteoarthritis were divided into two groups; 21 patients were operated on using (TG group) and 22 (NTG group) without using a tourniquet. Proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1b, interleukin-6, anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10, intercellular and vascular adhesion molecules, C-reactive protein, and full blood count were evaluated preoperatively and at one, three, six, and 24 hours postoperatively in both groups.

RESULTS

Demographics, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, surgery duration, osteoarthritis grade, and other preoperative variable values were comparable between groups. The average tourniquet time was 67.8 minutes. The majority of testing variables did not demonstrate significant postoperative differences between groups. However, the mean IL-6 value was non-significantly higher for the TG than the NTG group during the first six postoperative hours. It demonstrated a trend to significance at the end of the first postoperative day. The mean hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were significantly higher for the NTG group at the sixth postoperative hour.

CONCLUSIONS

The tourniquet use may affect the systemic inflammatory response. Patients undergoing TKA with or without a tourniquet demonstrated a similar systemic inflammatory response. However, reperfusion following approximately 70 minutes of tourniquet ischemia is a safe practice. HIPPOKRATIA 2021, 25 (1):31-37.