Fat Necrosis Following Application of a Tourniquet During Total Knee Arthroplasty.

A 60-year-old female underwent a right total knee arthroplasty but developed postoperative pain, swelling, and decreased knee range of motion. An ultrasound scan showed findings suggestive of fat necrosis at the site of previous tourniquet application. Following regular reviews, intensive physiotherapy, and analgesia, symptoms only started to resolve 5 months following the primary surgery. Fat necrosis of the thigh is highly uncommon following the application of tourniquets during total knee arthroplasty. This case was treated successfully without complications using nonoperative measures.

Novel roles of vibration transmittance in fracture testing.

This letter re-assesses a publication in the Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery entitled 'Vibration transmittance measures sternotomy stability - a preliminary study in human cadavers.' The roles of ultrasound in testing for sternotomy stability and that of stress vibration transmittance in cases of fracture of the posterior table of the sternum or in hairline undisplaced fractures are examined in view of their differing sound wave frequency ranges.