Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction; is a tourniquet necessary? A randomized controlled trial

84 patients undergoing arthroscopic ACL reconstruction were included in this trial to evaluate the effect of tourniquets in ACL reconstruction. Patients were randomized to undergo the procedure without a tourniquet or with a tourniquet inflated to 350mmHg. The outcomes of interest included operative time, arthroscopic visibility during the procedure, pain, hemarthrosis, thigh circumference, and muscle strength. The results indicated that tourniquet use was associated with higher pain for the first 10 hours postoperatively, greater postoperative blood loss, and higher grades of haemarthrosis when compared to procedures that were completed under adrenaline injection without a tourniquet. Additionally, there were no differences in operative time and arthroscopic visibility.