Appendix 1. Medline search strategy for RCTs

Ovid MEDLINE(R) 1946 to August Week 5 2016

1. arthroplasty, replacement,knee/ (17166)

2. knee Prosthesis/ (10303)

3. Tkr.ti,ab. (1338)

4. exp knee. (12724)

5. Knee.ti,ab. (96425)

6. 4 or 5 (101075)

7. exp arthroplasty/ (52275)

8. joint prosthesis/ (9921)

9. (arthroplasty$ or prosthe$ or replac$).ti,ab. (419747)

10. or/7‐9 (433269)

11. 6 and 10 (29324)

12. or/1‐3,11 (32468)

13. exp tourniquet/ (3407)

14. Tourniquet.ti,ab. (4412)

15. Esmarch.ti,ab (117)

16. Lofquist.ti,ab (3)

17. Cuff.ti,ab. (19634)

18. Or/13‐17 (24490)

19. 12 and 18 (633)

20. randomized controlled trial.pt (430183)

21. Controlled clinical trial.ot (91662)

22. Randomized.ab. (326206)

23. Placebo.ab. (164485)

24. Clinical trials as topic.sh. (179377)

25. randomly.ab. (228844)

26. Trial.ti. (143168)

27. Or/21‐26 (873089)

28. Exp animals/ not humans.sh (4313283)

29. 27 not 28 (794647)

30. 19 and 29 (192)

Appendix 2. Medline search stratedgy for observational studies

Ovid MEDLINE(R) 1946 to August Week 5 2016

1. arthroplasty, replacement,knee/ (26264)

2. knee Prosthesis/ (10437)

3. Tkr.ti,ab. (1445)

4. exp knee. (13018)

5. Knee.ti,ab. (102713)

6. 4 or 5 (107341)

7. exp arthroplasty/ (54920)

8. joint prosthesis/ (9917)

9. (arthroplasty$ or prosthe$ or replac$).ti,ab. (410606)

10. or/7‐9 (446439)

11. 6 and 10 (28919)

12. or/1‐3,11 (40006)

13. exp tourniquet/ (3536)

14. Tourniquet.ti,ab. (4613)

15. Esmarch.ti,ab (123)

16. Lofquist.ti,ab (4)

17. Cuff.ti,ab. (20336)

18. Or/13‐17 (25912)

19. 12 and 18 (908)

20. Case‐control studies/ or Case control.mp (268947)

21. Cohort studies/ or Cohort.mp (428924)

22. Case series. mp (45861)

23. Observational studies.mp or Observational study/ (57501)

24. Or/ 20‐23 (749956)

25. Exp animals/ not humans.sh (4438472)

26. 24 not 25 (739494)

28. 19 and 26(85)