A case of rhabdomyolysis associated with use of a pneumatic tourniquet during arthroscopic knee surgery

• Published in: The Korean journal of internal medicine Vol. 25; no. 1; pp. 105 - 109
• Main Authors: Lee, Yong Gu, Park, Woong, Kim, Sang Hoon, Yun, Sang Pil, Jeong, Hun, Kim, Hyung Jong, Yang, Dong Ho
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Association of Internal Medicine 01.03.2010; 대한내과학회
• Subjects: Adult; Anterior Cruciate Ligament - surgery; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; Arthroscopy - statistics & numerical data; Case Report; Humans; Knee Joint - surgery; Male; Postoperative Complications - diagnostic imaging; Postoperative Complications - etiology; Radionuclide Imaging; Renal Insufficiency - diagnostic imaging; Renal Insufficiency - etiology; Rhabdomyolysis - diagnostic imaging; Rhabdomyolysis - etiology; Tourniquets - adverse effects; Ultrasonography; 내과학; Tourniquets; Kidney failure, acute; Rhabdomyolysis
• ISSN: 1226-3303; 2005-6648
• DOI: 10.3904/kjim.2010.25.1.105

The common causes of rhabdomyolysis include trauma, hypoxia, drugs, toxins, infections and hyperthermia. Operative insults, including direct trauma and ischemia, have the potential to cause the development of rhabdomyolysis. Pneumatic tourniquets used during arthroscopic knee surgery to prevent blood loss have led to many complications such as nerve paralysis and vascular injuries. Rhabdomyolysis can also be caused by prolonged pneumatic tourniquet application without a midapplication release, and also from an increased application pressure, but the actual incidence of this is low. In order to prevent rhabdomyolysis, the clinicians must be aware of such risks and follow strict guidelines for the application time, the midapplication release and also the inflation pressure. Vigorous hydration and postoperative patient surveillance are helpful to prevent rhabdomyolysis. We have recently experienced a case of rhabdomyolysis after the arthroscopic knee surgery, and the rhabdomyolysis could have been associated with the use of a pneumatic tourniquet.