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Published in: Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy 5/2013

01-05-2013 | Knee

Do patients benefit from tourniquet in arthroscopic surgeries of the knee?

Authors: Yang Zhang, Le Li, Jian Wang, Zhi-han Li, Zhan-jun Shi

Published in: Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy | Issue 5/2013

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Abstract

Purpose

To undertake a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to determine whether routine use of a tourniquet is a better choice for knee arthroscopic procedures.

Methods

Randomized controlled trials which evaluated the application of a tourniquet were selected, gathering information about arthroscopic visualization and operative time. The random-effects meta-analysis was performed using relative risk calculated from the raw data.

Results

A total of five eligible studies were selected in this meta-analysis with 471 participants. There was no significant difference in visualization or operative time between the tourniquet and the non-tourniquet group.

Conclusions

There is insufficient evidence to support the hypothesis that patients would benefit from routinely applying a tourniquet. The use of a tourniquet did not show any advantage to arthroscopic procedures.

Level of evidence

Therapeutic randomized controlled trials, Level I.
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Metadata
Title
Do patients benefit from tourniquet in arthroscopic surgeries of the knee?
Authors
Yang Zhang
Le Li
Jian Wang
Zhi-han Li
Zhan-jun Shi
Publication date
01-05-2013
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy / Issue 5/2013
Print ISSN: 0942-2056
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7347
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-012-2094-3

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