Biomaterial Database

Upper extremity tourniquet tolerance. 1993

D T Hutchinson, and M A McClinton

Raymond M. Curtis Hand Center, Union Memorial Hospital, Baltimore, Md.

Twenty unsedated volunteers were tested to compare the relative tolerance of an arm tourniquet on one side and of a forearm tourniquet on the other. The forearm tourniquet was tolerated an average of 13 minutes (45%) longer and was consistently rated as less painful during and immediately after the test. No subject tolerated the arm tourniquet longer than the forearm tourniquet. Two peaks of discomfort were found, one just before deflation beneath the tourniquet and one in the hand 2 minutes later. Ulnar nerve distribution paresthesias were the earliest changes experienced; however, complete numbness occurred first in the median nerve distribution. Complete paralysis occurred 7 minutes later (24%) with the forearm tourniquet. Pulse rate did not correlate with tourniquet pain, but blood pressure did. No measurable tourniquet-induced edema occurred on either side.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008475	Median Nerve	A major nerve of the upper extremity. In humans, the fibers of the median nerve originate in the lower cervical and upper thoracic spinal cord (usually C6 to T1), travel via the brachial plexus, and supply sensory and motor innervation to parts of the forearm and hand.	Median Nerves,Nerve, Median,Nerves, Median
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D010146	Pain	An unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli which are detected by NERVE ENDINGS of NOCICEPTIVE NEURONS.	Suffering, Physical,Ache,Pain, Burning,Pain, Crushing,Pain, Migratory,Pain, Radiating,Pain, Splitting,Aches,Burning Pain,Burning Pains,Crushing Pain,Crushing Pains,Migratory Pain,Migratory Pains,Pains, Burning,Pains, Crushing,Pains, Migratory,Pains, Radiating,Pains, Splitting,Physical Suffering,Physical Sufferings,Radiating Pain,Radiating Pains,Splitting Pain,Splitting Pains,Sufferings, Physical
D010243	Paralysis	A general term most often used to describe severe or complete loss of muscle strength due to motor system disease from the level of the cerebral cortex to the muscle fiber. This term may also occasionally refer to a loss of sensory function. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p45)	Palsy,Plegia,Todd Paralysis,Todd's Paralysis,Palsies,Paralyses,Paralysis, Todd,Paralysis, Todd's,Plegias,Todds Paralysis
D010292	Paresthesia	Subjective cutaneous sensations (e.g., cold, warmth, tingling, pressure, etc.) that are experienced spontaneously in the absence of stimulation.	Dysesthesia,Formication,Paresthesia, Distal,Paresthesia, Painful,Distal Paresthesia,Distal Paresthesias,Dysesthesias,Formications,Painful Paresthesia,Painful Paresthesias,Paresthesias,Paresthesias, Distal,Paresthesias, Painful
D001794	Blood Pressure	PRESSURE of the BLOOD on the ARTERIES and other BLOOD VESSELS.	Systolic Pressure,Diastolic Pressure,Pulse Pressure,Pressure, Blood,Pressure, Diastolic,Pressure, Pulse,Pressure, Systolic,Pressures, Systolic
D004487	Edema	Abnormal fluid accumulation in TISSUES or body cavities. Most cases of edema are present under the SKIN in SUBCUTANEOUS TISSUE.	Dropsy,Hydrops,Anasarca
D005260	Female		Females
D005385	Fingers	Four or five slender jointed digits in humans and primates, attached to each HAND.	Finger