CLINICAL STUDIES
Computer-Assisted Cryotherapy as an Adjunct to Multimodal Analgesia Significantly Reduces Opioid Consumption and Improves Early Outcomes Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial
Latest Studies
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Computer-Assisted Cryotherapy as an Adjunct to Multimodal Analgesia Significantly Reduces Opioid Consumption and Improves Early Outcomes Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial
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The Impact of Computerized Cryotherapy on Time to Surgery and Hospital Length of Stay in Ankle Fractures: A Comparative Study
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Third-generation cryotherapy reduces time to surgery and local complications in patients with ankle fractures: a prospective randomised controlled trial
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Computer-assisted cryocompression therapy reduces pain and enhances rapid recovery of range of motion after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty
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Preoperative knee joint hypothermia reduces inflammation and recovery time and increases range of motion after total knee arthroplasty: A randomized controlled trial
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Continuous Cold Flow Device Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: Myths and Reality
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The Effects of Cryotherapy on Early Rehabilitation Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Prospective Cohort Study
Received: 01 December 2025
Accepted: 08 December 2025
Published: 11 December 2025
Computer-Assisted Cryotherapy as an Adjunct to Multimodal Analgesia Significantly Reduces Opioid Consumption and Improves Early Outcomes Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial
Abstract
Background
Effective postoperative pain management following Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) remains a significant clinical challenge, with conventional opioid-based regimens posing risks of adverse effects and potential dependence. Computer-Assisted Cryotherapy (CAC) represents an advanced, non-pharmacological intervention designed to mitigate pain and swelling through regulated cold compression. This study evaluated the impact of adjunctive CAC on opioid consumption and early recovery outcomes within a modern multimodal analgesia protocol.
Methods
In this prospective randomized controlled trial, 210 patients undergoing primary TKA were allocated to either a control group (n = 105) receiving standard multimodal analgesia or an intervention group (n = 105) receiving identical pharmacologic management plus CAC (2 daily sessions of 3 hours each at 10 °C with intermittent compression). Primary outcomes included pain intensity measured on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at 24, 72, and 120 hours postoperatively and total opioid consumption— converted to morphine milligram equivalents (MME)—during the first 5 postoperative days. Secondary outcomes comprised range of motion (ROM), limb swelling, Length Of Hospital Stay (LOS), and complication rates.