FASTEST REDUCTION OF POSTTRAUMATIC EDEMA - CONTINUOUS CRYOTHERAPY OR INTERMITTENT IMPULSE COMPRESSION

Sixty patients with foot or ankle trauma were randomized and treated i n three groups, In intermittent impulse compression, an air pad under the foot was inflated every 20 seconds, thus activating the venous foo t pump, In continuous cryotherapy, ice water circulates between the ic e box and the cold pad. The ice water was changed once per day, In sta ndard therapy, the injured extremity was treated with cool packs, whic h were changed 4 times per day. Beginning at admission, every 24 hours the circumference was measured around the ankle, midfoot, and forefoo t, After 24 hours of treatment, there was a 47% reduction in swelling with the A-V Impulse System, 33% with continuous cryotherapy, and 17% with cool packs, After 4 days of postoperative treatment, the A-V Impu lse System reduced the swelling by 74% versus 70% with continuous cryo therapy and 45% with cool packs. Both new methods are preferable to co ol packs, Because of the better preoperative results, the A-V Impulse System proved to be the most effective device.