OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare the incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after total knee arthroplasty with the use of sterile elastic tourniquet and the pneumatic tourniquet. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From 2005 to 2012, 754 patients undergoing Total knee prosthesis (TKP) were included in this study. Two groups have been formed considering patient number, sex and weight. At the first group, 377 patients have been operated using pneumatic tourniquet. Sterile tourniquet was also used in 377 patients at the second group. Both groups were evaluated for biochemical tests which related to clotting. Patients showing preoperative DVT or receiving anticoagulants were excluded. Patients with known factor deficiency were also excluded from this study. All patients were operated by same surgeon group and mean operation time was 60 (45-100) minutes. All of the patients were mobilised after 19 (10-28) hours. Ankle flexion and extension exercises was performed after following motor block. Mean hospitalization time was 5 (3-9) days. Patients were controlled in the first and fourth weeks after discharge from the hospital. During this time, patients have been evaluated with clinical findings and lower extremity doppler ultrasonography for DVT. Patients who had developed DVT, have been treated by cardiovascular surgery department. RESULTS: 165 (21.8%) of the 754 patient had DVT. 124 (32.8%) of these patients was in the first group and 41 (10.8%) was in the second group. 21 (2.7%) patients had pulmonary embolism, 19 (5%) patients were in the first group and 2 (0.5%) of these were in the second group. We observed a significant difference between the groups, with a frequency of DVT and pulmonary embolism. (p<0.05). Demographic characteristics were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: When pneumatic tourniquet was used, spasms had been developed in 30-40 centimeter segment at lower extremity because of circular compressive forces. On the other hand, this segment was only two centimeters when sterile tourniquet was preferred. When affected segment was larger, increasing venous thrombosis risk were shown because of venous intima damage. We thought that the use of a sterile tourniquet decreased the incidence of DVT .