Short answerNot much. A tourniquet shortens the operation by a few minutes, but it probably brings more pain on the first day and more serious complications.
Evidence grade
Does not helpNot enough evidenceHelps a littleGood evidence
Probably does not help
What it is
A tourniquet is a tight band around the thigh that stops blood flowing to the lower leg during surgery. It gives the surgeon a drier view and is used in many knee replacements.
What the research shows
pooled 41 randomised trials with 2,819 people having a knee replacement with or without a tourniquet. The evidence was of moderate certainty.
On the first day after surgery, pain was about 1.25 points higher on a 10 point scale with a tourniquet. The operation was a few minutes shorter. Hospital stay was about a third of a day longer. At 12 months, knee function was probably much the same in both groups. People with a tourniquet probably had more serious adverse events.
that routine use is difficult to justify and that patients should be told about the possible extra risk of serious adverse events and pain.1,2
Risks and effort
The review found more serious adverse events with a tourniquet and more pain on the first day.
