The use of a tourniquet when plating tibial fractures [see comments]. ³

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Salam AA. Eyres KS. Cleary J. el-Sayed HH. Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery - British Volume. 73(1):86-7, 1991 Jan. Sixty closed fractures of the tibia were treated by open reduction and internal fixation with plates and screws. Half the operations were performed with a thigh tourniquet and half without. In the tourniquet group, there were six cases with erythema and induration of the wound; in the other group there were no such complications. Despite negative bacterial cultures, superficial infection of the inflamed wounds was suspected. It is suggested that a tourniquet may predispose tissues to infection, and its use is not recommended during operations for internal fixation of the tibia.