Study Summary

One hundred sixty-nine patients with ankle fractures requiring operative fixation were randomized to receive third-generation cryotherapy with the Z-One device or standard immobilization and elevation without cryotherapy. The primary outcome of interest was time to surgery. Secondary outcomes of interest included preoperative pain assessed by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), morphine consumption, local skin complications, and treatment safety. Outcomes were assessed throughout the preoperative hospitalization period until surgery. Overall, the results of the study revealed that third-generation cryotherapy significantly reduced time to surgery compared with controls. while also lowering preoperative pain scores, morphine consumption, and the incidence of skin complications. Preoperative third-generation cryotherapy was demonstrated to be a safe and effective addition in the perioperative management of ankle fractures and may improve surgical readiness and reduce complication risk.