Tourniquet time effect on the quadriceps muscle strength by using isokinetic dynamometer system which the patients with total knee arthroplasty

Objective: In this study our aim was to evaluate tourniquet time effect on the quadriceps muscle strength by using isokinetic dynamometer system.Materials and Methods: Patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty by primer osteoarthritis were evaluated at Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology between April and August 2010. We recorded patient?s gender, weight, height, body mass index and operated side. Quadriceps strength measurements were obtained before the operation and after the operation in 6th week, 12th week and 6th month by the isokinetic dynamometer. Tests were performed at 60°/sn to obtain peak torque values of quadriseps muscle strength.Results: Before the operation, the mean quadriceps muscle strength score was 75 N/m., six weeks after operation the mean quadriceps muscle strength score was 29 N/m.. Twelve weeks after operation the mean quadriceps muscle strength score was 58 N/m. and six months after operation the mean quadriceps muscle strength score was 71 N/m. We obtained anterior negative significant correlation between the tourniquet time and the mean muscle strength at 6th weeks, 12th weeks and 6th months after the operation.Conclusion: In this study we observed decreasing of the muscle strength at 6th , 12th weeks and 6th month in the long applied tourniquet time. We concluded that, long tourniquet time has negative effects on quadriseps muscle strength and longer tourniquet time decreases the muscle strength.