Use of a pneumatic tourniquet in total knee arthroplasty increases the risk of distal deep vein thrombosis: A prospective, randomized study

109 patients scheduled for total knee arthroplasty were randomized to undergo the procedure with or without the use of a tourniquet. The purpose of this study was to compare the rate of deep vein thrombosis at 7 days postoperatively. Results demonstrated a significantly higher incidence of asymptomatic distal deep vein thrombosis in the tourniquet group compared to the non-tourniquet group; the difference between groups in asymptomatic proximal deep vein thrombosis was not significant. Only one case of deep vein thrombosis among the entire study cohort was symptomatic.