OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of cryotherapy after elbow arthrolysis on elbow pain, blood loss, analgesic consumption, range of motion and long-term elbow function. DESIGN: A prospective, single-blinded, and randomized controlled study. SETTING: An orthopedic unit at a university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-nine patients (27 females and 32 males) received elbow arthrolysis. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly assigned into a cryotherapy group (n = 31, cryotherapy plus standard care) and a control group (n = 28, standard care). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Elbow pain at rest and on motion was measured using visual analogue scale (VAS) on postoperative day (POD) 1 to POD 7, and at 2 weeks and 3 months after surgery. Blood loss and analgesic consumption were recorded postoperatively. Elbow range of motion (ROM) was measured before surgery and on POD 1, POD 7 and at 3 months after surgery. The Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) was evaluated preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS: VAS scores were significantly lower in the cryotherapy group during the first 7 postoperative days, both at rest and on motion (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in VAS scores at 2 weeks and 3 months after surgery. Less sufentanil was consumed by the cryotherapy group than by the control group for pain relief (p < 0.01). No significant differences were found in blood loss, ROM and MEPS between the two groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Cryotherapy is effective in relieving pain and reducing analgesic consumption for patients received elbow arthrolysis. The application of cryotherapy will not affect blood loss, ROM or elbow function.

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