Tourniquet application only during cement fixation in total knee arthroplasty: a double-blind, randomized controlled trial

This report has been verified by one or more authors of the original publication.

65 out of originally planned 230 patients were randomized into two groups to determine the effects of short duration tourniquet use in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Patients were randomized to a short duration group, with tourniquet application during cement fixation of the implant only, or a longer duration group, with application of tourniquet from skin incision to just after cement fixation. Comparing the functional benefits of different duration of tourniquet application, after 52 weeks of recovery, the trial found no difference in Oxford Knee Scores between groups. The study was discontinued due to high risk of transfusion in the short duration group