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. 2021 Nov;22(6):e80.
doi: 10.4142/jvs.2021.22.e80.

Hyperbaric gaseous cryotherapy for postoperative rehabilitation enhances functional recovery of canine stifle joint: a report on a short-term study

Ju-Yeol Han  1 , Wan Hee Kim  1   2 , Byung-Jae Kang  1   3
Affiliations

Hyperbaric gaseous cryotherapy for postoperative rehabilitation enhances functional recovery of canine stifle joint: a report on a short-term study

Ju-Yeol Han et al. J Vet Sci. 2021 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Hyperbaric gaseous cryotherapy (HGC) is a type of cryotherapy used in human medicine for rehabilitation after orthopedic surgeries. Because HGC is known to reduce acute or chronic pain, research is needed to prove its effectiveness in veterinary medicine.

Objectives: To compare the effects of HGC between the HGC treatment group and the nontreatment (NT) group on postoperative swelling, range of motion, lameness score, postoperative pain, and kinetic measurements after stifle joint surgery in dogs.

Methods: Dogs were randomized in an HGC group or NT groups. In the HGC group, HGC was applied once a day for a total of 2 days after surgery. All parameters were measured postoperatively and at 1, 2, 10, and 28 days after surgery.

Results: Twenty dogs were enrolled: 10 in the HGC group and 10 in the NT group. Soft tissue swelling was not significantly different between groups at any time point. In the HGC group, pain scores decreased significantly 24 h after surgery and 48 h after surgery. Dogs in the HGC group showed a significantly decreased lameness and improvement for all kinetic measurements beginning 48 h after surgery. In addition, the HGC group indicated a significant increase in range of motion as compared with the NT group at 28 days after surgery.

Conclusions: HGC plays a powerful role in decreasing initial postoperative pain. Furthermore, the improvement in pain affects the use of the operated limb, and the continued use of the limb eventually assists in the quick recovery of normal function.

Keywords: Dogs; cryotherapy; gait analysis; rehabilitation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. (A) Cryo300pet device. (B) Schematic illustrations of Cryo300pet's handpiece part. (1) A blue light-emitting diode is produced that can sterilize the epidermis. (2) Nozzle, gaseous CO2 microcrystal is sprayed. (3) Thermometer. (4) Laser-guided infrared measurement system. (5) Light part is displayed in blue during normal injection and turns red to avoid a risk of frostbite. (6) Gaseous injection switch
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Evaluation of lameness score (mean ± SD) compared with the HGC group with the NT group at all measured time points (*indicates a significant difference, p ≤ 0.05, between the HGC group and the NT group at a given time point).
HGC, hyperbaric gaseous cryotherapy; NT, nontreatment.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3. ROM (mean ± SD) of the stifle joint compared between the HGC and the NT groups at all measured time points (*indicates statistically significant difference between the HGC group and NT group at a given time point, p ≤ 0.05).
ROM, range of motion; HGC, hyperbaric gaseous cryotherapy; NT, nontreatment.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4. (A) Comparison of the development of the symmetric index of PVF of the HGC group with the NT group. (B) Comparison of the development of the SI of VI of the HGC group with the NT group. The SI was calculated for the following analyses and accordingly converted (*indicates a statistically significant difference between the HGC group and the NT group at a given time point, p ≤ 0.05).
PVF, peak vertical force; HGC, hyperbaric gaseous cryotherapy; NT, nontreatment; SI, symmetric index; VI, vertical impulse.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5. Evaluation of the percentage of weight distribution (mean ± SD) between the HGC group and the NT group at all measured time points. The weight distribution calculated for the following analyses was accordingly converted (*indicates a significant difference, p ≤ 0.05, between the HGC and NT groups at a given time point).
HGC, hyperbaric gaseous cryotherapy; NT, nontreatment.
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