6-week cryo-compression therapy and opioid use after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty with comparable pain scores: a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

Study Summary

97 patients undergoing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty were included in this parallel-group trial in which patients were randomized to receive standard postoperative care or standard care plus a cryo-compression brace used five times daily for 6 weeks. The primary outcome of interest was pain at rest measured using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for pain at rest at 6 weeks. Secondary outcomes included pain during loading, oxycodone consumption, functional outcomes (Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), Oxford Knee Score (OKS), Work, Osteoarthritis and joint-Replacement Questionnaire (WORQ), range of motion (ROM), knee circumference, Timed Up and Go), quality of life (KOOS-QoL, EQ-5D-5L), patient satisfaction, protocol compliance, and complications. Outcomes were assessed preoperatively and at 6 weeks, while oxycodone use was recorded daily for 6 weeks. Overall, the results of the study revealed that cryo-compression did not improve pain, function, or quality of life compared with standard care. However, it significantly reduced 5-mg oxycodone consumption and was well tolerated with high patient satisfaction. These findings suggest that prolonged cryo-compression offers a modest opioid-sparing benefit after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty without providing clinically meaningful improvements in pain or functional recovery.