Tourniquet Use in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair

The Implications of Tourniquet Use on Early Quadriceps Function in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstructions: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The purpose of this study is to assess the intra-operative and post-operative effects of tourniquet use during ACL reconstruction. We hypothesize that:

1. Limited tourniquet use will not significantly impact arthroscopic visualization nor the time it takes to complete an ACL reconstruction.
2. Limited tourniquet use will lead to significantly less patient pain intra-operatively and in the immediate peri-operative period.
3. Patients who undergo an ACL reconstruction with limited tourniquet use will have earlier return of quadriceps functions as compared to those undergoing reconstruction with the use of a tourniquet.

Type of Study Double-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial

Group 1 (Control): Patients undergoing patellar bone-tendon-bone autograft ACL reconstruction with a tourniquet used for the duration of the case.

Group 2 (Treatment/Intervention, if applicable): Patients undergoing ACL reconstruction with a tourniquet used only during patellar bone-tendon-bone autograft harvest, for a maximum of 20 minutes.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients undergoing an arthroscopic assisted ACLR using a bone-tendon-bone patellar tendon autograft.
2. 18 years or older
3. English speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Concomitant procedures (e.g., osteotomy or other ligamentous reconstructions) other than chondroplasty, partial meniscectomy or meniscal repair
2. Medical contraindications to epinephrine or TXA use.
3. Hemophilia or other predisposition for bleeding
4. Does not follow study protocol in regard to regional anesthesia, TXA, epinephrine use in the arthroscopy fluid and post-operative rehabilitation.
5. Participation in physical therapy at any facility other than the OrthoCarolina Randolph, Matthews or South Park locations