Third-generation cryotherapy reduces time to surgery and local complications in patients with ankle fractures: a prospective randomised controlled trial
A randomized controlled trial shows cryotherapy reduces surgery time and complications in ankle fracture patients, suggesting it as an effective treatment option.
Key Points
This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of third-generation cryotherapy in managing ankle fractures, focusing on surgery timing and local complications.
Randomised controlled trial with 169 patients having ankle fractures.
Participants were divided into a cryotherapy group (89 patients) and a control group (80 patients).
Measured outcomes included time to surgery, pain levels (VAS), opioid intake, and skin complications.
Mean time to surgery was significantly shorter in the cryotherapy group (34.78 hours) versus the control (91.44 hours, p < 0.001).
Cryotherapy group showed lower mean VAS scores (2.04) compared to the control group (5.9).
Less morphine consumption was recorded in the cryotherapy group (0.1 mg) compared to controls (0.83 mg).
Only 4.5% of the cryotherapy patients developed skin complications versus 28.7% in the control group.