Limb Occlusion Pressure Versus Standard Pneumatic Tourniquet Pressure in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: Tourniquets are frequently used to minimize blood loss. Standard pressures (STPs) are typically higher than minimum limb occlusion pressure (LOP), which can contribute to postoperative pain among other complications. We sought to investigate the effect of STP versus LOP on postoperative pain and opioid medication use after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR).

METHODS: Sixty patients (age = 37 ± 15 years) undergoing ACLR were recruited and randomized into STP (275 mm Hg; M = 15/F = 15) or LOP (180 ± 29 mm Hg; M = 15/F = 15) group. A photoplethysmography probe was used to determine appropriate tourniquet pressures for the LOP group. Tourniquet and surgical site pain (Visual Analog Scale scores 0 to 10), as well as opioid medication usage, was recorded for 14 days after surgery. A generalized linear mixed model was used to detect differences in pain and medication use over the 14 days. The type-I error was defined as = 0.05.

RESULTS: Tourniquet site pain was less in the LOP group during postoperative days (PODs) 1 to 5 (P < 0.05) and averaged across the two-week postoperative period (P = 0.015). Surgery site pain was less in the LOP group at PODs 9 and 14 (P < 0.05). Reduced opioid medication use was observed in the LOP group at PODs 3, 4, and 7 and averaged across the postoperative window (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Individualized LOPs yield decreased postoperative pain and narcotic use compared with STP during ACLR.