Tourniquet-less Total Knee Replacement – Less Trauma, Quicker Recovery

The total knee replacement surgery is one of the most common and highly successful procedures for patients dealing with pain, arthritis and loss of function and mobility in the knee. Yet, despite the success of this surgery, many patients remain hesitant to have it performed, fearing pain and the need for extensive post-operative rehabilitation.

The good news is – total knee replacement surgery has come a long way over the years, offering patients quicker recoveries and minimally invasive options. At Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland (OACM), surgeons have adopted the tourniquet-less total knee replacement technique, providing patients with additional benefits.

What is Tourniquet-Less Knee Replacement Surgery?

Most traditional total knee replacements are performed using a tourniquet – a tight band placed on upper thigh to cut off blood supply to the thigh and knee during the surgery. Eliminating blood in the surgical site was thought to help the surgeon perform the procedure with greater ease of vision. However, the development of a tourniquet-less knee replacement technique has had excellent benefits and outcomes for patients that far exceed any benefits of utilizing a tourniquet.

By eliminating the use of the tourniquet during the knee replacement procedure, patients experience multiple advantages:

• Overall less blood loss.
• Less tissue injury because blood flow to the upper thigh and knee is not stopped.
• Decreased post-operative pain due to the thigh muscles no longer being squeezed by the tourniquet during the operation.
• Less risk for a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or a dangerous blood clot that can form in the deep veins of the leg.
• Easier rehabilitation due to minimal or no trauma to the quadriceps (thigh) muscle during surgery.
• An overall faster recovery.

“Total knee replacements are challenging to recover from, but by eliminating the use of the tourniquet we are able to make a patient’s overall recovery less challenging and less painful,” explains Sam Sydney, M.D., an orthopaedic surgeon at OACM who has been utilizing this tourniquet-less technique for knee replacement surgery for several years with great success for patients.

“Most surgeons are taught the knee replacement procedure using the tourniquet; it’s how it’s been done for a long time,” Dr. Sydney added. “However, the tourniquet-less technique has been gaining in popularity over the past few years, and as a surgeon, it’s important to realize the vast benefits this technique has for patients, their overall function and post-operative recovery.”
To find a surgeon at OACM performing the tourniquet-less total knee replacement surgery, call (410) 644-1880 or (855) 463-2663, or visit www.mdbonedocs.com.