In vivo tissue temperature comparison of cryotherapy with and without external compression.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the tissue-cooling efficiency of external cryotherapy with and without adjunctive compression.


METHODS
We conducted an experimental repeated-measures study in which each of the 11 anesthetized subject dogs served as its own control. A chemical instant cold pack was applied to each subject's ventral thighs. One pack was held in position by gravity, and the other was compressed against the musculature with a tubular elastic wrap. Baseline and subsequent temperature measurements were taken every 10 minutes for 1 hour with the use of an IM temperature probe percutaneously inserted into each subject's hind legs.


RESULTS
IM temperatures were not significantly different at baseline and were coldest at 20 minutes; they increased slowly thereafter. The recorded temperature was lower under the compressed cold pack (P = .003), and changes over time for both groups were also significant (P = .005). The instantaneous temperature difference at 10, 30, 40, 50, and 60 minutes was also significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Externally applied instant cold packs in a dog model caused local tissue hypothermia that peaked by 20 minutes, persisted for at least 1 hour, and was significantly augmented by adjunctive compression. Further research is needed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of these interventions in the management of acute soft-tissue injuries.
Barlas
D
D
Department of Emergency Medicine, University Medical Center at Stony Brook, State University of New York, USA.
Homan
C S
CS
Thode
H C
HC
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D017679:Cryotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D004285:Dogs; D011312:Pressure; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric