Combined Cryotherapy With Compression Versus Cryotherapy Alone After Orthopaedic Surgery

September 29, 2025 updated by: Ashley Bozzay, MD, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Randomized Control Trial of Combined Cryotherapy With Compression Versus Cryotherapy Alone After Orthopaedic Surgery

Cryotherapy has been used to enhance recovery after orthopaedic surgery. Many devices are available but few can guarantee a temperature regulation during a prolonged time and therefore have been criticized. The arrival of new advanced cryotherapy devices made it possible to test the effect of prolonged cooling on rehabilitation after arthroscopic orthopaedic procedures.

Study Overview

Status

Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Opioids are most commonly administered for the treatment of pain and are among the most prescribed drugs in the United States (US). Between 2003 and 2011, opioid prescriptions increased from 149 million to 238 million [3,5,7,11]. In 2004, while constituting only 4.5% of the world's population, the US consumed 99% of the global supply of hydrocodone [3,11]. These trends resulted in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognizing opioid abuse as an epidemic [2,11].

Pain management after orthopaedic arthroscopic procedures is mandatory regardless of the surgical technique. Cold therapy (cryotherapy) has been widely used for many years in the treatment of postoperative pain management in orthopaedic surgery and most studies have reported better pain scores and reduced drug consumptions [1,6,8]. Cryotherapy involves applying a cold device to the skin surrounding the injured soft tissues to reduce the intraarticular temperature. It reduces local blood flow by vasoconstriction, which in turn also reduces local inflammatory reaction, swelling, and heat experience. It also decreases the conduction of nerve signals potentially reducing pain transmission [14,15]. Several cryotherapy options are available: first generation cold therapy like crushed ice in a plastic bag, cold or gel packs; second-generation cold therapy with circulating ice water with or without compression; and third-generation advanced computer-assisted devices with continuous controlled cold therapy.

Cryotherapy is the standard of care in some countries and rarely is used in others [17]. Conflicting evidence regarding the value of this treatment from randomized trials may contribute to that practice disparity [16]. Raynor et al [8] showed that cryotherapy has a statistically significant benefit in postoperative pain control, while no improvement in postoperative range of motion or drainage was found. Cryotherapy with compression units are inexpensive, easy to use, have a high level of patient satisfaction, and are rarely associated with adverse events. Raynor et al [8] concluded cryotherapy may be justified in the postoperative management of knee surgery.

Postoperative cryotherapy with compression was proposed as a method of reducing pain and the inflammatory response in the early postoperative period after orthopaedic arthroscopic procedures. Previous study results are equivocal. Kraeutler et al [12] reported that there does not appear to be a significant benefit to use of cold compression over standard ice wraps in patients undergoing shoulder arthroscopy for rotator cuff repair or subacromial decompression. While Alfuth et al [13] concluded no recommendations can be made regarding the question whether cold compression therapy or cold therapy should be preferred immediately after arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder. Our goal is to analyze the analgesic efficacy of cryotherapy after shoulder, knee, and hip arthroscopic procedures using the Game Ready © which is a second generation cryotherapy with compression system. The investigators hypothesize this may decrease postoperative opioid usage as well as be more cost effective when compared to first generation cryotherapy (ice packs without compression) for medical healthcare systems.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

348

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Maryland
      • Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20889
        • Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adult (18 years of age or older)
  • Eligible for DEERS (Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System - A system that enables uniformed service members & family members to receive health care through TRICARE)
  • Fluent in speaking, reading, and understanding English
  • Scheduled to receive one of the following procedures: Knee arthroscopy, Shoulder arthroscopy, or Hip arthroscopy

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Unable to understand and/or provide written informed consent
  • Presence of concurrent additional injuries (e.g., both a knee and hip injury). Participants can only have one injury

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Game Ready Cryotherapy with Compression Group
Post-operative treatment will involve using a Game Ready ® unit
Device: Game Ready Cryotherapy with Compression Group
Instead of using the traditional ice-pack cryotherapy (without compression), patients randomized into this group will use the Game Ready device, which uses cryotherapy with compression, during their post-operative treatment care.
Active Comparator: Control Cryotherapy Group
Post-operative treatment will involve using the standard of care cryotherapy (i.e., traditional ice packs without compression).
Other: Control Cryotherapy Group
Patients randomized to the control group will use the standard of care, which is using traditional cryotherapy (i.e., an ice pack without compression)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS) before and after each cryotherapy session
Time Frame: Post-operative days 1-14

Quick survey to assess pain level in the moment before and after each cryotherapy session.

The DVPRS consists of a basic traffic-light color code. Green represents mild pain with a scale ranging from 0-4; yellow represents moderate pain with a scale ranging from 5-6, and red represents severe pain with a scale ranging from 7-10. The DVPRS also includes an additional visual tool: facial expressions that correspond with each number. The faces range from a full happy face representing a pain level of zero to a grimacing face representing a pain level of 10.
Post-operative days 1-14
Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS) at wake up
Time Frame: Post-operative days 1-14

Quick survey to assess pain level in the moment at the time of wake up.

The DVPRS consists of a basic traffic-light color code. Green represents mild pain with a scale ranging from 0-4; yellow represents moderate pain with a scale ranging from 5-6, and red represents severe pain with a scale ranging from 7-10. The DVPRS also includes an additional visual tool: facial expressions that correspond with each number. The faces range from a full happy face representing a pain level of zero to a grimacing face representing a pain level of 10.
Post-operative days 1-14
Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS) right before bed time
Time Frame: Post-operative days 1-14

Quick survey to assess pain level in the moment at the time right before going to sleep.

The DVPRS consists of a basic traffic-light color code. Green represents mild pain with a scale ranging from 0-4; yellow represents moderate pain with a scale ranging from 5-6, and red represents severe pain with a scale ranging from 7-10. The DVPRS also includes an additional visual tool: facial expressions that correspond with each number. The faces range from a full happy face representing a pain level of zero to a grimacing face representing a pain level of 10.
Post-operative days 1-14
Cryotherapy Device Usage
Time Frame: Post-operative days 1-14
Patients will maintain a Daily Therapy Log to document their usage of the assigned cryotherapy device.
Post-operative days 1-14
Medication Consumption
Time Frame: Post-operative days 1-14
Patients will maintain a daily Medication Log to record their consumption of pain medications.
Post-operative days 1-14
Demographics Survey
Time Frame: Pre-operation (baseline)
Prior to undergoing their arthroscopy, participants will complete a brief Demographics survey, which asks relevant medical and service history and demographic questions including: sex, race/ethnicity, year of birth, marital status, military affiliation, branch of service, military rank, occupational specialty, and employment status.
Pre-operation (baseline)
Change in the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) from before surgery to after surgery
Time Frame: Pre-operation (baseline) and then post-operation at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months
The SANE score is a validated patient reported outcome measure. It is a single question score that asks, "how would you rate your condition today as a percentage of normal (0% to 100% scale with 100% being normal)?" The SANE score is collected as standard of care.
Pre-operation (baseline) and then post-operation at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months
Change in the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS) from before surgery to after surgery
Time Frame: Pre-operation (baseline) and then post-operation at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months

The DVPRS consists of a basic traffic-light color code. Green represents mild pain with a scale ranging from 0-4; yellow represents moderate pain with a scale ranging from 5-6, and red represents severe pain with a scale ranging from 7-10. The DVPRS also includes an additional visual tool: facial expressions that correspond with each number. The faces range from a full happy face representing a pain level of zero to a grimacing face representing a pain level of 10.

Four supplemental questions are included in the DVPRS to help identify how pain affects an individual's lifestyle. These questions also include a numerical scale that ranges from zero to 10 for each question. The four supplemental questions ask about pain pertaining to: daily activity during the past 24 hours, mood during the past 24 hours, sleep during the past 24 hours, stress during the past 24 hours
Pre-operation (baseline) and then post-operation at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months
Change in the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function (PF) from before surgery to after surgery
Time Frame: Pre-operation (baseline) and then post-operation at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months
This patient reported outcome measures the outcome of patients with musculoskeletal disorders by assessing physical function through a grading scale of activities of daily living
Pre-operation (baseline) and then post-operation at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months
Change in the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pain Interference (PI) from before surgery to after surgery
Time Frame: Pre-operation (baseline) and then post-operation at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months
This patient reported outcome measures the extent to which pain hinders an individual's engagement with physical, mental, cognitive, emotional, recreational, and social activities
Pre-operation (baseline) and then post-operation at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months
Change in the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Depression (DEP) from before surgery to after surgery
Time Frame: Pre-operation (baseline) and then post-operation at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months
This patient reported outcome focuses on affective and cognitive manifestations of depression rather than somatic symptoms such as appetite, fatigue and sleep
Pre-operation (baseline) and then post-operation at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months
Change in the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Anxiety (ANX) from before surgery to after surgery
Time Frame: Pre-operation (baseline) and then post-operation at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months
This patient reported outcome focuses on fear (e.g., worry, feelings of panic), anxious misery (e.g., dread), hyperarousal (e.g., tension, nervousness, restlessness), and somatic symptoms related to arousal (e.g., cardiovascular symptoms, dizziness)
Pre-operation (baseline) and then post-operation at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months
Change in the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Sleep Interference (SI) from before surgery to after surgery
Time Frame: Pre-operation (baseline) and then post-operation at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months
This patient reported outcome measures self-reported alertness, sleepiness, tiredness, and functional impairments associated with sleep problems during waking hours within the past seven days
Pre-operation (baseline) and then post-operation at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months
Change in the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Form (ASES) from before surgery to after surgery
Time Frame: Pre-operation (baseline) and then post-operation at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months
The ASES is a 100-point scale that consists of two dimensions: pain and activities of daily living. There is one pain scale worth 50 points and ten activities of daily living worth 50 points
Pre-operation (baseline) and then post-operation at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months
Change in the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) from before surgery to after surgery
Time Frame: Pre-operation (baseline) and then post-operation at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months
The IKDC Questionnaire is a subjective scale that provides patients with an overall function score. The questionnaire looks at 3 categories: symptoms, sports activity, and knee function. The symptoms subscale helps to evaluate things such as pain, stiffness, swelling and giving-way of the knee
Pre-operation (baseline) and then post-operation at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months
Change in the Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS) from before surgery to after surgery
Time Frame: Pre-operation (baseline) and then post-operation at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months
The hip disability and osteoarthritis outcome score (HOOS) is a questionnaire intended to be used to assess the patient's opinion about their hip and associated problems and to evaluate symptoms and functional limitations related to the hip during a therapeutic process
Pre-operation (baseline) and then post-operation at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Ashley B Bozzay, MD, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

November 2, 2020

Primary Completion (Estimated)

July 28, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 28, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 12, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 11, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

August 18, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

October 3, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 29, 2025

Last Verified

September 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • WRNMMC-2020-0310

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual level data will not be shared with anyone. Only aggregate results will be shared publicly.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

Yes

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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