Résumé
The widespread pre-hospital use of tourniquets, particularly in the upper limb, raises questions about associated morbidity, which has been little studied and may have serious consequences for functional prognosis.
A review of 9 patients was carried out, analyzing pre-hospital tourniquet use in terms of complications affecting recovery.
There were serious complications: musculocutaneous nerve palsy in 1 patient, and compartment syndrome, rhabdomyolysis and ischemia-reperfusion syndrome in another. A role of prolonged pre-hospital tourniquet application in postoperative infection was also suspected in 2 patients.
The risk-benefit ratio and indications for using a tourniquet on the upper limb in the pre-hospital setting need to be reconsidered.