Ankle Fracture Tourniquet Utilization

Launched by ALEX DEMERS · Mar 6, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

Lower extremity tourniquet utilization remains a controversial practice during the operative fixation of rotational ankle fractures and is often left to surgeon discretion. At our own institution, tourniquet use varies between surgeons with some providers using a tourniquet for every case, while others regularly do not utilize tourniquets. Despite benefits of decreased surgical time and decreased blood loss, many studies have cited negative outcomes associated with tourniquet usage including increased postoperative swelling and pain, increased wound complications, and increased risks of dee...

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion criteria:
• • 1. Patients \>18 y.o. undergoing ankle fracture open reduction internal fixation
• • 2. Ground level fall as mechanism of injury
• • 3. Closed injury
• Exclusion criteria:
• • 1. Open Ankle Fractures
• • 2. Vascular Injury Requiring Intervention
• • 3. Lower extremity injuries on same side of ankle fracture
• • e) Active anticoagulation/bleeding disorder necessitating tourniquet use (Hemoglobin \<7, PT \>13, PTT\>35) f) Ipsilateral lower extremity trauma impacting immobilization g) Patients with peripheral neuropathy h) Patients undergoing ankle arthroscopy