The timing of tourniquet release in total knee arthroplasty and its influence on blood loss

We performed a prospective, randomized study to investigate the effect of tourniquet release on the perioperative and postoperative blood loss. eighty patients with ages ranging 52 to 84, who received total knee artroplasty were evaluated. patients were randomly divided in two groups. posterior cruciate retaining, bicompartmental total knee prostheses were used in all. in group 1, the tourniquet was deflated intraoperatively after the prosthetic componenets were settled and hemostasis was done. in group 2, the tourniquet was released after the wound was closed and a compressive bandage was applied. first day mean blood drainage was 400 ml (±208.5) in group 1 and 530 ml (±136.6) in group 2 (p<0.05). the mean number of perioperative and postoperative blood transfusions given, hemoglobin values were similar in both groups. intraoperative tourniquet release and hemostasis reduce blood loss but does not reduce blood transfusion.