Cryotherapy Treatment After Arthroscopic Knee Debridement and ACL Reconstruction: A Review

Pain, swelling, and inflammation of the knee joint and its surrounding soft-tissue structures are common during the postoperative period after arthroscopic knee debridement and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. These challenges can make patient recovery difficult immediately after surgery. Several options exist, however, to help patients overcome these challenges. Cryotherapy has been noted to decrease pain, swelling, and inflammation. However, while a number of studies exist characterizing the use of cryotherapy after knee surgery, no definitive cryotherapy devices and modalities have been identified. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to evaluate randomized controlled trials to assess the use of cryotherapy after: 1) arthroscopic debridement; and 2) anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.