Tourniquet Paralysis May Reflect Injury of Muscle Spindles: A Case Report | Chapter 03 | Issues and Developments in Medicine and Medical Research Vol. 9

 The application of a pneumatic tourniquet during a knee procedure may result in quadriceps femoris muscle weakening. A patient with bilateral quadriceps femoris muscular paresis was observed for two months after surgery. After DBX-reconstruction of bilateral patellar chondrodysplasia, there was immediately acute and severe discomfort in the lower limbs.

Follow-up with ENMG and lumbar magnetic stimulation (MEP).

Six weeks after surgery, there was no discernible damage of the motor axons of the femoral or other nerves in ENMG or MEP. The paresis reduced after an eight-month follow-up, and the patient recovered completely in two years.

Conclusion: The tourniquet's high pressure can harm muscle spindles. Reduced Ia-afferent activity can significantly reduce voluntary motor effort.

Author(S) Details

Juhani V. Partanen
Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University of Helsinki, Clinical Neurosciences, Clinical Neurophysiology, and University Hospital of Helsinki, Finland.

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