Effects of Programmed Cryotherapy and Continuous Passive Motion After Computer-Assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty
Effects of Programmed Cryotherapy and Continuous Passive Motion After Computer-Assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty
The hypothesis of this study was the patients, who received programed cryotherapy and CPM,
 had experienced less postoperative pain, joint swelling, and increased ROM following CAS-TKA.
The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) has proposed the definition of
 pain as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential
 tissue damage or described in terms of such damage. Therefore, adequate pain management and
 control of localized swelling and stiffness after TKA has become a priority because it is
 essential for improving patient satisfaction, prevention of complications, and enhancing
 quality of life by faster recovery. Systemic and local analgesics are the most common
 strategies for postoperative pain management in TKR. However, patients might experience
 nausea, vomiting, constipation, or respiratory failure due to opioid-related side effects,
 subsequently refusing to mobilize and delaying the rehabilitation program).

 In addition to pain control, cryotherapy and continuous passive motion (CPM) are commonly
 used for TKA patients as non-pharmacological methods to reduce the postoperative pain and
 swelling and to increase the amount of knee flexion. The application of cryotherapy after TKA
 has been described extensively in the literature and is part of standard care globally.
 However, its benefits and value remain controversial due to the disparity in practice, such
 as differences in clinical protocols and the type of cryotherapy application. Continuous
 passive motion is a motorized device, which passively moves the knee joint within a certain
 range of motion (ROM) to decrease analgesics requirements, reduce the incidence of deep vein
 thrombosis, and increase ROM. But the effects of CPM remain contentious in the literature.
 Although controversial, cryotherapy and CPM have been used extensively as part of the
 standard postoperative management protocol for TKA patients without knowing its
 cost-effectiveness. However, the value of combined therapy of cryotherapy and CPM remains
 uncertainty and unclear following CAS-TKA.

 The hypothesis of this study was the patients, who received programed cryotherapy and CPM,
 had experienced less postoperative pain, joint swelling, and increased ROM following CAS-TKA.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  primary and unilateral computer-assisted total knee arthroplasty

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  (1) patients who underwent bilateral TKAs, unicompartmental TKA or revision TKA

 -  (2) patients who had to remove previous implants or history of high-tibial or distal
 femoral corrective osteotomy

 -  (3) patients who were unable to response to the questionnaires.