The effect of tourniquets on muscle enzymes during foot and ankle surgery.

The use of lower extremity tourniquets for procedures of the foot and ankle is considered routine in podiatric surgery, yet, lower extremity tourniquets are not benign. Recent publications in the orthopedic and podiatric literature report incidents of rhabdomyolysis with associated myoglobinurea as a consequence of prolonged tourniquet use. An unselected series of 40 patients undergoing a variety of surgical procedures on the foot and ankle with tourniquet control were studied. Preoperative and postoperative laboratory values were used to evaluate the effect of tourniquets on muscle enzymes during podiatric surgery.