In trauma and orthopedic surgery, limb ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) remains a great challenge. The effect of preventive protocols, including surgical conditioning approaches, is still controversial. We aimed to examine the effects of local ischemic pre-conditioning (PreC) and post-conditioning (PostC) on limb I/R. Anesthetized rats were randomized into sham-operated (control), I/R (120-min limb ischemia with tourniquet), PreC, or PostC groups (3 × 10-min tourniquet ischemia, 10-min reperfusion intervals). Blood samples were taken before and just after the ischemia, and on the first postoperative week for testing hematological, micro-rheological (erythrocyte deformability and aggregation), and metabolic parameters. Histological samples were also taken. Erythrocyte count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit values decreased, while after a temporary decrease, platelet count increased in I/R groups. Erythrocyte deformability impairment and aggregation enhancement were seen after ischemia, more obviously in the PreC group, and less in PostC. Blood pH decreased in all I/R groups. The elevation of creatinine and lactate concentration was the largest in PostC group. Histology did not reveal important differences. In conclusion, limb I/R caused micro-rheological impairment with hematological and metabolic changes. Ischemic pre- and post-conditioning had additive changes in various manners. Post-conditioning showed better micro-rheological effects. However, by these parameters it cannot be decided which protocol is better.
