Skip to main content

Table 1 Key Insights and Takeaways

From: Tourniquet-induced nerve compression injuries are caused by high pressure levels and gradients – a review of the evidence to guide safe surgical, pre-hospital and blood flow restriction usage

Key Insights

 Nerve Injuries

• Transient and permanent nerve injuries can be associated with tourniquet use when not used appropriately.

 Pressure Levels and Gradients

• High pressure gradients resulting from narrow cuffs and high applied pressures will cause injury

• The lowest effective pressures should be applied, using wide cuffs that conform well to the limb shapes of individual patients

 Tourniquet Applications

• For surgical applications, tourniquet pressure levels and tourniquet pressure gradients should be minimized to reduce tourniquet-induced nerve compression injuries.

• For pre-hospital applications, there is a need for guidelines on safe tourniquet selection and patient application, and on safe transfer of patients to surgical settings.

• For BFR applications, evidence arising from surgical tourniquet development, research and clinical studies should be used to reduce the potential for tourniquet-induced nerve compression injuries.