Effect of Protective Padding in Pneumatic Tourniquet Applications on the Prevention of Skin Complications.

ABSTRACT

The use of pneumatic tourniquets in orthopaedic surgery has become essential as they create a bloodless surgical field in lower and upper limb applications and allow the anatomical structures to be better visualized. This aim of this study, which was conducted on 60 patients, was to determine the effect of protective padding on preventing skin complications in pneumatic tourniquet applications. Patients were divided into 3 groups of cotton-cast padding, protection sleeve, or no/without protective padding underneath the tourniquet cuff. Mean values were as follows age 27.7 ± 6.9 years, tourniquet pressure 307.5 ± 31.7 mmHg, and tourniquet duration 87.8 ± 15.3 minutes. There was a significant difference between the groups in terms of the rate of skin complications (p < .05) immediately after survey, 30 minutes after surgery, and 180 minutes after surgery. Protective padding underneath pneumatic tourniquet cuff can be recommended during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.