2016 AAOS Annual Meeting: Effect of Tourniquet Use in Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty

54 patients (108 knees) scheduled for simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty were randomized to tourniquet use for the duration of the procedure in one knee, and limited tourniquet use (only during prosthesis cementation) for the procedure in the other knee. Outcomes of interest included blood loss, pain, thigh diameter, knee range of motion, and the straight leg raise test. Lower blood loss was reported for full tourniquet use while lower pain was noted for limited tourniquet use, though statistical significance was not stated. No significant differences were observed in knee range of motion or the straight leg raise test.