PurposeA pneumatic tourniquet is commonly used in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) to improve surgical field visualisation but may result in quadriceps muscle ischaemia. We performed this study to analyse the effect of the tourniquet on recovery following TKA.Materials and MethodsA prospective randomised single-blinded trial was undertaken to examine the effect of the tourniquet on post-operative pain, swelling, blood loss, quadriceps function and outcome following TKA. Twenty patients with osteoarthritis of the knee were randomised to tourniquet or no tourniquet groups. Quadriceps function was assessed using surface electromyography (EMG) during active knee extension.ResultsThe no tourniquet group had significantly less pain in the early post-operative period compared to the tourniquet group. There was no difference in Oxford knee score, range of motion, or thigh and knee swelling up to 12 months post-operatively. Quadriceps function, measured by surface EMG, was compromised for the first six months post-surgery by tourniquet use. The radiological cement mantle at the bone prosthesis interface at 12-month follow-up was not affected by the absence of a tourniquet.ConclusionsWe believe that it is safe and beneficial for our patients to routinely perform TKA without a tourniquet.

THR confers significant mid-term HRQOL benefits across a broad range of health domains. Further studies based on consistent guidelines provided in this review are required.

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Measurement of a rotational deformity using a SP app was significantly more accurate and consistent than both VE and OT. We believe the currently available SP technology provides orthopaedic surgeons with a significantly better alternative method of determining the magnitude of rotational deformity when performing corrective osteotomies.

Intra-articular fracture dislocations of the base of the middle phalanx are complex and debilitating injuries that present a management conundrum when nonreconstructable. Hemi-hamate arthroplasty (HHA) is a treatment modality of particular use in the setting of highly comminuted fractures. This systematic review aims to summarize the reported outcomes of HHA in this context. A literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, Embase, and PubMed, yielding 22 studies with 235 patients for inclusion. The weighted mean postoperative range of movement at the proximal interphalangeal joint was 74.3° (range, 62.0°-96.0°) and at the distal interphalangeal joint was 57.0° (range, 14.0°-80.4°). The weighted mean postoperative pain Visual Analog Scale was 1.0 (range, 0.0-2.0). The weighted mean postoperative grip strength was 87.1% (range, 74.5%-95.0%) of the strength on the contralateral side. Posttraumatic arthritis was reported in 18% of cases, graft collapse in 4.2%, and donor site morbidity in 3.0%, with a mean follow-up period of 28.4 months (range, 1-87 months). Hemi-hamate arthroplasty is a reliable and effective technique for the reconstruction of intra-articular base of middle phalangeal fracture dislocations, affording symptomatic relief and functional restoration. Further research is required to assess the true incidence of long-term complications.