Application of tourniquet with polymer padding in upper limb surgery

Abstract

Objective To design a new tourniquet cuff padding made of polymer composite materials, and to analyze the effects of preventing the tourniquet-induced skin injury with the new cuff padding during orthopedic operations. Methods A total of 60 patients, who used pneumatic tourniquet to stop bleeding, undergoing elective upper limb operations were randomly assigned to treatment group (n=30) and control group (n=30). In the treatment group, the limb underneath the pneumatic tourniquet was protected by a layer of Polymer padding while in the control group the limb was protected by a layer of gypsum paper. The effects of the two types of padding on controlling bleeding and preventing skin post-operative injuries were observed and analyzed. Results In the experimental group, the skin reaction rate was lower than the rate of the control group (χ2=19.186 8, P<0.01). The good feedback from surgeon was good occupying 27 cases in the treatment group and 21 cases in the control group for stopping bleeding (χ2=16.734 3, P<0.01). Conclusions Using the Polymer protective padding can reduce the incidence of complications in the skin underneath the tourniquet and improve the effects of bleeding-control. Key words: Pressure, tourniquet; Hospital, Orthopedics; Upper limb, surgery; Skin impairment