Surgery and postoperative mobilisation after injuries of the ankle joint and the foot have frequently to be delayed because of swelling. This study endeavours to examine whether a continuous cryotherapy is superior to the intermittent cryotherapy as carried out till now by means of cool packs. The Polar Care model 500 was used for the continuous cryotherapy. From May to November 1993, 40 patients (22 ankle joint fractures, 13 lateral ligament ruptures, 4 calcaneus fractures and 1 metatarsus fracture) were assigned to the two therapy groups by means of a prospective random process. After 24 hours, the patients undergoing continuous cryotherapy showed an average reduction of the swelling of 34% in the ankle, navicular and metatarsal regions, and those with intermittent cryotherapy 18%. When used after surgery, an average reduction of the swelling of 69% could be observed after 4 days in patients with continuous cryotherapy, while it was 43% in patients with continuous cryotherapy, while it was 43% in patients with intermittent cryotherapy. The continuous cryotherapy has proved to be very effective in reducing the posttraumatic and postoperative edema. And it is significantly superior to the traditional intermittent cryotherapy.

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