Use of Cold Therapy for Postoperative Carpal Tunnel Release Pain Control

ABSTRACT

Open carpal tunnel release is a common procedure performed in the United States associated with significant postoperative morbidity. This study determined the value of postoperative cold therapy in reducing pain associated with open carpal tunnel release.

A single surgeon performed open carpal tunnel releases on 50 patients. All patients underwent conservative management including splinting, therapy, and oral pain medications. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Group 1 received oral narcotic medication (hydrocodone 5 mg/acetaminophen 500 mg) for postoperative pain management. Group 2 received oral narcotic medication and a cold therapy unit to be used for 2-5 days immediately postoperatively. The quantity of oral narcotics was measured for each patient for the first 5 days postoperatively. Patients subjectively assessed cold therapy concerning pain reduction after surgery.

Group1 required an average of 13.56 pills compared to group 2, which required 5.36 pills for postoperative analgesia (P=.0001). The data were analyzed by an unpaired two-tailed t test. Patients receiving the cold therapy reported it reduced their pain postoperatively. No postoperative wound complications were reported in either group.

Use of cold therapy following open carpal tunnel release is a valuable tool in reducing patient’s postoperative pain. Patients who received the cold therapy required significantly less oral narcotic pain medication and believed the cold therapy reduced their pain postoperatively.