Coale M, Costales T, Zerhusen T, et al. - In view of the concerns regarding the pulmonary effects of employing tourniquets for secondary extremity fractures in cases also undergoing intramedullary nail (IMN) fixation of femoral or tibial shaft fractures, researchers here examined if tourniquet use is linked with rise in ventilator days. They performed a retrospective review of 1,966 patients with 2,018 fractures (1070 femoral shaft and 948 tibial shaft) treated with IMN at a Level I trauma center, from December 2006 to September 2014. Findings revealed no correlation of tourniquet use for secondary extremity fractures, in patients also undergoing IMN fixation for femoral or tibial shaft fractures, with an increased number of ventilator days. They indicated a potential protective effect of using tourniquet in patients with upper extremity fractures and in those with both upper and lower extremity fractures.