Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Not yet recruiting

NCT Number: NCT07831941

Effect of Tourniquet Use on the Pivot Shift Test

This prospective study will evaluate whether tourniquet inflation affects the results of the pivot shift test in patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The pivot shift test is commonly used to assess rotational instability of the knee in patients with ACL injury.

In each participant, the pivot shift test will be performed under anesthesia before and after inflation of the thigh tourniquet, allowing the two conditions to be compared within the same patient. The study aims to determine whether tourniquet use changes the findings of the pivot shift examination.

Understanding the possible influence of tourniquet inflation may help standardize intraoperative assessment of rotational knee instability and improve interpretation of the pivot shift test during ACL surgery.

Not yet recruiting

Trial opening soon.

Get Notified

Key information

Conditions

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries Knee Injuries Leg Injuries Wounds and Injuries

Age range

16 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

About this study

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficiency may result in both anterior and rotational instability of the knee. The pivot shift test is commonly used to assess rotational instability and is frequently performed under anesthesia during ACL reconstruction. However, intraoperative factors may influence the findings of the examination.

This prospective study is designed to investigate whether inflation of a thigh tourniquet affects the pivot shift test. Each participant will serve as their own control. After induction of anesthesia, the pivot shift test will be performed before tourniquet inflation and repeated after tourniquet inflation under the same operative conditions. The findings obtained under the two conditions will be compared to determine whether tourniquet inflation influences the assessment of rotational knee instability.

The study may help clarify whether tourniquet status should be standardized when the pivot shift test is performed intraoperatively during ACL reconstruction.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture.
  • Age between 16 and 65 years.

Exclusion criteria

  • Patients with multiligament knee injuries.
  • Patients with fractures extending into the knee joint.

Treatment and study plan

Thigh Tourniquet Inflation

Procedure

After the baseline pivot shift test is performed under anesthesia, the thigh tourniquet is inflated and the pivot shift test is repeated during the same surgical procedure. The findings before and after tourniquet inflation are compared within the same participant.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Pivot Shift Test Grade After Tourniquet Inflation

    Time frame: Intraoperatively, immediately before and after tourniquet inflation

    The pivot shift test will be performed under anesthesia immediately before and after inflation of the thigh tourniquet. Pivot shift grade will be recorded using the standard clinical grading system. Pre-inflation and post-inflation grades will be compared within the same participant to determine whether tourniquet inflation changes the degree of rotational knee instability. Higher grades indicate greater rotational instability.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Mesut AKKAYA, MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+90 505 244 15 25

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Umraniye Education and Research Hospital

Other Gov

Registry information

Official study title

Evaluation of the Effect of Tourniquet Use on the Pivot Shift Test

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Sep 21, 2026
Registry last updated
Sep 22, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.