Opioids are most commonly administered for the treatment of pain and are among the most prescribed drugs in the United States (US). Which resulted in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognizing opioid abuse as an epidemic.

 

Pain management after orthopedic 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 orthopedic surgery and has been reported with better pain scores and reduced drug consumption.

 

Cryotherapy involves cold exposure to the body, with temperatures up to -110C, and 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

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Source: Manchikanti L, Helm S 2nd, Fellows B, Janata JW, Pampati V, Grider JS, Boswell MV. Opioid epidemic in the United States. Pain Physician. 2012 Jul;15(3 Suppl):ES9-38.