title: Effects of ethyl chloride spray on early recovery after total knee arthroplasty: A prospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ethyl chloride spray as a common cooling modality has been widely used in acute sports injuries and joint injection procedures. Several clinical studies reported that use of ethyl chloride has positive effects on swelling, pain reduction and recovery from sports injuries. The main aim of present study was to analyze whether postoperative use of ethyl chloride spray benefits results after primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Between April 1, 2014 and October 21, 2015, 306 subjects undergoing primary TKA used ethyl chloride spray for improving recovery from the damage from surgery. After exclusion of 31 subjects due to adverse events including periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), deep venous thrombosis (DVT), acute myocardial infarction, finally 275 subjects' data regarding pain score, knee range of motion (ROM), knee girth, time of being able to reach 90° knee flexion and analgesic consumption were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences in pain score, knee ROM at each time point and knee girth at on 21st and 28th postoperatively were detected without increased incidence of adverse events. Besides, time of being able to reach 90° knee flexion and analgesic consumption in the treatment group were significantly decreased in comparison to the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of ethyl chloride spray can help patients recovery from the damage from TKA safely.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, The General Hospital of Chinese PLA, 100853, Fuxing Road, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Wang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rui
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Chinese PLA 252 Hospital, 071000, No. 991 Baihua Dong Road, Baoding, Hebei, China. Electronic address: Gonglong301@163.com.
authors.forename: Gong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Long
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Chinese PLA 252 Hospital, 071000, No. 991 Baihua Dong Road, Baoding, Hebei, China.
authors.forename: Geng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Chinese PLA 252 Hospital, 071000, No. 991 Baihua Dong Road, Baoding, Hebei, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, The General Hospital of Chinese PLA, 100853, Fuxing Road, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hengjin
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Chinese PLA 252 Hospital, 071000, No. 991 Baihua Dong Road, Baoding, Hebei, China. Electronic address: wzh_0312@sina.com.
authors.forename: Wang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhenhu
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D002681:China; D005018:Ethyl Chloride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000601:surgery; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005018:Ethyl Chloride