Effectiveness of Cryotherapy on Postoperative Edema among Patients undergone Orthopaedic Surgery for Lower Extremities in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background: Acute edema can occur as a result of surgical procedure. [1] Persistent swelling can result in delayed wound healing due to the elements present in chronic wound fluid which inhibit growth factors. Cryotherapy is a well tolerated therapy for the reduction of edema and is also called as cold applications. [2] Cryotherapy is a simple and inexpensive therapy which has been accepted for decades as an effective therapy for edema management. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of cryotherapy on postoperative edema among patients undergone orthopaedic surgery for lower extremities at Govt. Medical College Hospital, Kottayam. A quantitative approach was used for the study and the design adopted was true experimental design. The conceptual framework, Roy’s Adaptation model theoretically supported the study. Simple random sampling technique was employed to select 35 patients in control and 35 patients in experimental group. The data were collected using socio personal and clinical data sheet and edema 4 -point scale. During the data collection period cryotherapy was given to the patients in control group, the ice packs covered with gauze bandage were applied over the dressing present on the surgical site. It was applied for 20 minutes every 2nd hourly for first 24 hours and every 4th hourly for the next 24 hours. Post test evaluation was done after 24 and 48 hours. Findings revealed that cryotherapy had statistically significant effect on postoperative edema (p less than 0.05) among patients undergone orthopaedic surgery for lower extremities. Based on the findings of the present study, it can be concluded that cryotherapy was effective in reducing postoperative edema among patients undergone orthopaedic surgery.