Different cold compress regimens for swelling and pain relief after knee arthroscopy for tibial meniscus injuries
Gu Lina
Yu Haizhen
Zhang Xindan
Zhang Li
Lyu Haiyan
Yao Yunping
Sun Hui
Xiao Han
Abstract：Objective To investigate the effects of different cold compress regimens on postoperative limb swelling and pain in patients undergoing knee arthroscopy for tibial meniscus injuries.Methods This prospective study analyzed data from 62 patients who underwent knee arthroscopy at the Department of Traumatology and Ortho-paedics,First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University,between Aug.2023 and Mar.2024.Participants(27 males,35 females;mean age 48.3 years,range 21-69 years)sustained tibial meniscus injuries via road traffic accidents(n=33),falls(n=12),or other mechanisms(n=17).Using a random number table,patients were allo-cated to either the control group or the experimental group(n=31 for each).The control group received intermit-tent ice pack therapy(30 min per session,3 times daily),with functional exercises performed out of cold compress-ing.The experimental group received near-continuous ice pack therapy,interrupted only for scheduled functional exercises;the ice packs were replaced after warming to room temperature.For both groups,the cold compress ther-apy was initiated 6 h postoperatively and continued for 3 d.The VAS scores for pain and knee swelling(measured 2 cm above the patella's superior pole,5 cm below the patellar midpoint,and at the patella's inferior pole)were assessed before and 24,48,and 72 h post-cold compress initiation.The knee flexion range of motion(ROM)was also evaluated at 1 week postoperatively.Results No significant differences were observed between the two groups for baseline data(pre-cold compress)of VAS scores,knee swelling or mean knee ROM(all P＞0.05).After near-continuous cold compressing,the experimental group showed significantly less pain and swelling(perimeter at 2 cm above the patella's superior pole/the patella's inferior pole/5 cm below the patellar midpoint)at 24 h(VAS score:3.1±0.8 vs.3.9±0.6;perimeter:cm,2.68±0.16/2.89±0.18/1.54±0.18 vs.2.91±0.22/3.09±0.23/1.84±0.17,all P＜0.05),48 h(VAS score:2.1±0.5 vs.2.6±0.6;perimeter:cm,2.00±0.20/2.21±0.17/1.12±0.19 vs.2.33±0.19/2.52±0.21/1.41±0.18,all P＜0.05),and 72 h(VAS score:1.2±0.6 vs.1.8±0.5;perimeter:cm,1.47±0.14/1.67±0.13/0.97±0.11 vs.1.73±0.23/1.97±0.20/1.13±0.16,all P＜0.05)after therapy initiation.Furthermore,the knee flexion ROM was significantly larger in the experimental group at 1 week after cold compress(134.4°±8.3° vs.128.4°±8.9°,P＜0.05).Conclusion Near-continuous cold com-press is significantly more effective than intermittent therapy in reducing postoperative pain and knee joint swelling,improving knee flexion ROM,and enhancing overall rehabilitation outcomes following arthroscopic meniscal surgery.
Keywords：Tibial meniscus injuriesCold compressKnee arthroscopySwellingPain
Publication Date：2025-08-15
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-27(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：6( 612-617 )