Influence of a Tourniquet on Opioid Consumption After Local Infiltration Analgesia for Total Knee Arthroplasty

Abstract

There was no difference in the time to first opioid consumption, suggesting that the presence of an inflated tourniquet during local anaesthetic injection does not alter systemic absorption sufficiently to affect the duration of analgesia. However, the use of a tourniquet was associated with a higher opioid consumption, which is most likely caused by pain resulting from the tourniquet itself.