Please note: In any event, the values of pressure and model selection in the Model Selection Guide are to be used as reference.
Reynders P
A Twenty-three old women was involved in a road-traffic accident. She sustained a closed mono-trauma to her left knee-distal femur (according to AO it was classified as 33-C3 fracture).
Initial fixation was done with an external fixator (fig.1a&b) We chose to use HemaClear® XL for this case as our exsaguination and occlusion method because it is sterile and has a narrow profile.
Once in place, HemaClear allows access to the whole limb as opposed to classical pneumatic tourniquet, which due to its width, obstructs and diminishes the surgical field on the proximal thigh.
Applying HemaClear was simple even over the comminuted fractures. Three staff members were involved in the application process: one staff member held the limb and an elevated angelapplying axial traction as the other two members pulled the device straps rolling it over the limb into the final occlusion location.
HemaClear exsanguinates as it is rolled over the leg and exerts consistent pressure at the occlusion site occluding blood flow and eliminating the need for an Esmarch bandage, tourniquet machine and sterile stockinet (fig. 2a&b). An open reduction and internal fixation was performed (fig. 3a&b&c&d)