Effect of Tourniquet Application on Postoperative Functional Outcome Following Total Knee Arthroplasty; a Prospective Cohort Study

In a prospective cohort design, consecutive series of patients who underwent primary unilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in the Bergman Clinic, the Netherlands were investigated. Patients scheduled for primary TKA due to osteoarthritis, age between 50 and 75 years and with Dutch language proficiency were eligible for inclusion. Exclusion criteria were inflammatory arthritis, severe cardiac complaints, severe pulmonary disorders, Body Mass Index (BMI) >35, severe coagulation disorders or hospitalization in the previous two months before surgery. Each patient included in the study signed informed consent. The research protocol was approved by the Regional Ethics Committee VCMO in Nieuwegein, the Netherlands, registration number W13.022.