Background: Recent evidence suggests that cryotherapy may be beneficial in reducing postoperative pain and blood loss in joint arthroplasty. The objective of this study was to review the use of cryotherapy in the early postoperative phase after total hip arthroplasty to assess the benefits in terms of pain relief and reduction in postoperative blood loss.
Material and methods: A prospective cohort study of the use of a cryotherapy device (Hilotherm) was performed in patients following total hip arthroplasty. The primary outcome measures were visual analogue score (VAS) for pain (at 24 and 48 hours postoperatively), and amount of postoperative blood loss, measured by change in haemoglobin (g/L). The secondary outcome measures were length of stay (days), duration of patient controlled analgesia (PCA) administered postoperatively (hours) and amount of analgesia used (mg) in the first 48 hours.
Results: 28 patients were recruited (n=13 Hilotherm; n= 15 non-Hilotherm). Hilotherm application reduced pain in the first 24 hours, non-significantly, (3.50±2.41 vs 4.90±2.95; p=0.185). This effect was not carried through at 48 hours postoperatively (5.68±1.94 vs 3.72±2.46; p=0.029). Hilotherm application significantly reduced postoperative blood loss (22.38±5.71 g/L vs 29.13±10.22 g/L; p=0.045). Hilotherm reduced length of stay by almost 1 day; however, this was not statistically significant (4.46±2.33 vs 5.20±3.55; p=0.528). There was no difference in the length of time PCA was administered (22.30±0.75 vs 22.02±3.26; p=0.763). Patients in the non-Hilotherm group required more paracetamol on average (p=0.001).
Conclusions: 1. Hilotherm application does not appear to significantly reduce pain postoperatively but re-sults in less postoperative blood loss. 2. There may be a role for the continued use of cryotherapy in the early period of rehabilitation following total hip arthroplasty, as it appears to result in more rapid ambulatory rehabilitation in patients, resulting in reduced length of stay.
Keywords: cryotherapy; postoperative pain; rehabilitation; total hip replacement.