Preoperative cryotherapy use in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

59 patients scheduled for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction were randomized to one of two groups: preoperative cryotherapy or to a control group not receiving preemptive cryotherapy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of preoperative cryotherapy over the first 4 days postoperatively. Patients were evaluated for pain and analgesic consumption (percocet). The results indicated significantly lower pain in the cryotherapy group from the end of surgery to the first postoperative morning, and significantly lower percocet consumption into the first postoperative day. Thereafter, differences between groups were not statistically significant.