Abstract

A bloodless field is important in many orthopaedic operations necessitating the use of a pneumatic tourniquet or Esmarch bandage. The outcome of the use of an Esmarch bandage for exsanguination and as a tourniquet in 112 consecutive patients who had elective orthopaedic operations on 131 limbs was evaluated. The setting was at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, from March 2003 to February 2005. The mean age of the patients was 25.7 + standard deviation years (range 1-70 years). The duration of tourniquet application ranged from 20 min to 2 h 35 min. Four limbs (3.1%) developed acute compartment syndrome; four (3.1%) had tourniquet paralysis with ulnar nerve involvement in three limbs. All limbs regained full neurological function following physiotherapy. There was wound infection in two limbs (1.5%). In spite of its drawbacks, the Esmarch bandage is still useful for exsanguination and as a tourniquet in orthopaedic surgery where there is no pneumatic tourniquet.

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Publisher Full Text

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Akinyoola AL, Oginni LM, Orimolade EA, Ogundele OJ

Institution

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. aakinyoola@yahoo.co.uk

Source

Tropical doctor 37:3 2007 Jul pg 139-41

MeSH

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Hospitals, Teaching
Humans
Infant
Male
Middle Aged
Nigeria
Orthopedic Procedures
Radial Neuropathy
Surgical Procedures, Elective
Tourniquets
Ulnar Neuropathies

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

17716495