A prospective randomized study was performed to evaluate the role of cold compressive dressings in the postoperative treatment of total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

The use of cold compression in the postoperative period of TKA results in a dramatic decrease in blood loss. In addition, mild improvements are seen in early return of motion and injectable narcotic pain needs in the postoperative period.

Cryotherapy is widely used as an emergency treatment of sports trauma and postoperatively especially after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

The study compared the range of motion, the volume of hemovac output and blood loss, visual analog pain score, analgesic consumption, and wound healing in the 2 limbs of the same patient. This study showed that continuous-flow cold therapy is advantageous after TKA because it provides better results in all areas compared.