title: Comparison the effects of pressurized salt ice packs with water ice packs on patients following total knee arthroplasty.
abstract: The aim of this study was to estimate the effects of pressurized salt ice packs (PIP) with water ice packs (WIP) which are used to relieve pain and decrease swelling on patients following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Sixty-nine patients undergoing primary unilateral TKA were randomly divided into two groups (PIP group and WIP group). We used a visual analog scale (VAS) to score knee pain and the score was recorded. The knee bilateral girth, the slipping times of the ice pack, and the times of wound dressing or bed moist were recorded during cryotherapy. The scores of pain between the two groups were significant difference in 12 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after TKA (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found for the girth measurements of the operative knee on the two levels in 12 h, 24 h and 72 h, respectively. However, there was statistically difference for girth measurements between the two groups in 48 h after TKA (P < 0.05). PIP is a cheap, safe and simple method, which is more effective than WIP on reducing pain and swelling degree of patients. Thus, PIP is recommended in clinical nursing work.
authors.affiliation: Department of Joint Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College Wuhu 241001, Anhui, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Liying
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of Joint Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College Wuhu 241001, Anhui, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Wannan Medical College Wuhu 241002, Anhui, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Wannan Medical College Wuhu 241002, Anhui, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jiali
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fei
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Wannan Medical College Wuhu 241002, Anhui, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zongyuan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hong
keywords: Cryotherapy; pain; swelling; total knee arthroplasty