Effect of Tourniquet Application on Postoperative Outcomes in Minimally Invasive Surgery for Intra-articular Calcaneus Fractures

Abstract

\n Background: Tourniquets are commonly used during foot and ankle surgery to provide a bloodless operative field and for the sake of the surgeon`s comfort, despite the potential risks associated with it. This study was performed to compare postoperative outcomes of tourniquet-assisted to non-tourniquet-assisted operative fixation of calcaneal fractures.Methods: A total of 131 patients with closed calcaneal fracture who underwent minimally invasive surgery of calcaneal fractures between March 2015 and December 2018 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients for whom a tourniquet was used intraoperatively (n = 62) were compared to those without (n = 69). Operating time and visualization, blood loss, postoperative pain according to visual analogue scale (VAS), the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot score, and hospital length of stay were recorded for all the patients.Results: Statistical analysis of the results showed significant differences between tourniquet and non-tourniquet groups in the mean operation time, visibility of the surgical field, mean estimated intraoperative and postoperative blood loss, and mean VAS pain scores 24 H, 48 H, 72 H postoperatively (P < 0.05), whereas no significant difference between two groups in the mean Serum CPK levels, post-operative swelling, mean length of stay, AOFAS score, wound and fracture healing time, and the mean time for return to work.Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that tourniquet application during minimally invasive surgery of calcaneal fractures can significantly shorten the operation time, improve surgical visualization, and reduce intraoperative blood loss. However, adverse events associated with the use of tourniquet include increased postoperative pain, and more amount of postoperative bleeding. Due to higher postoperative pain and more amount of postoperative bleeding, more attention should be paid on the postoperative phase for those who tourniquet was used. The surgeon s decision to use a tourniquet during calcaneal fractures surgery should be carefully considered.