title: Comparison of gaseous cryotherapy with more traditional forms of cryotherapy following total knee arthroplasty.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of gaseous cryotherapy following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and to compare it to routinely used strategies for applying cold therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-six patients undergoing primary unilateral TKA were randomized into three groups and received "gaseous cryotherapy (GC)", "cold pack" and "cryocuff" applications, respectively throughout the hospital stay. Primary outcomes (knee pain intensity, mobility and girth measurements) were recorded on preoperative day 1 as well as on postoperative day (POD) 7. Cutaneous temperature of the knee sides were also measured on POD7 just before and immediately after cold application.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although skin temperature dropped to 14°C following GC versus 22 to 24°C for the other two applications (P<0,05), the three groups did not differ at POD7 regarding the three primary outcomes. No adverse effects were observed with any of the ways of application.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gaseous cryotherapy was not more beneficial than routinely used strategies for applying cold therapy. Further studies with larger sample size and with a more frequent and closer gaseous cryotherapy applications are needed to confirm our results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Motricity Sciences and Rehabilitation, Liège University, Belgium. christophe.demoulin@ulg.ac.be
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Demoulin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brouwers
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Darot
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gillet
authors.forename: J-M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Crielaard
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vanderthommen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D017679:Cryotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide