Het effect van computer gestuurde koeltherapie op de pijn beleving en het gebruik van morfine houdende
medicatie na plaatsing van een totale knieprothese
Een prospectieve gerandomisserde placebo gecontroleerde studie

Even though some studies show excellent results regarding CAC, this treatment, the quality of the available literature is not convincing and level I evidence is still missing. Cryotherapy was generally safe and not associated with any serious adverse events and may improve the range of motion at the knee in the first one to two weeks after surgery. No studies were found that looked at the effects of cryotherapy on a person’s activities related to knee function. Well designed randomised trials are required to improve the quality of the evidence

Our hypothesis is that CAC can achieve a pain-reducing effect of at least 20% after 7 days.

pre- and 7 days and 2 and 6 weeks post-operatively

The patients will be discharged to home after TKA on the day of surgery. At home the joint, will be cooled using CAC during a period of 7 days according to our protocol. Patients will receive 6 hours of continuous cooling at 8°C immediately after surgery (starting in their room). In the evening (12°C) and during the first night at home (12°C), patients will receive 4 hours each of CAC.

The day after surgery the protocol consisted of 2 hours of treatment in the morning (10°C), followed by 2 hours of CAC in the afternoon (10°C). During the second evening and nights, patients will receive one session of 4 hours each (12°C). The next nights patients are allowed to use CAC as option in case of extreme pain (12°C). The second day postoperative the protocol consisted of 2 hours of treatment in the morning (10°C), followed by by 2 hours of CAC in the afternoon (10°C), this schedule will be repeated up to postoperative day 7. The night sessions are optional in case of extreme pain (12°C). A minimum of 2 hours must be wihtin the sessions.