Effects of cold therapy in the treatment of mandibular angle fractures: hilotherm system vs ice bag.

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of Hilotherm, a recently introduced cooling system, in controlling postoperative edema and pain and to compare the results with those obtained with conventional cryotherapy.

MATERIAL OF STUDY: The investigators selected 40 patients with unilateral angle fracture of the jaw and divided them into two groups, cryotherapy with ice bag (A group), and Hilotherapy system (B Group); both groups with the same drug treatment. Facial swelling was preoperatively quantified measuring skin segments (called α, β, γ and δ), pain and patient satisfaction were measured for each with questionnaires.

RESULTS: Data analysis showed better decrease of soft tissue edema and better pain control with Hilotherapy system in post-surgical treatment.

DISCUSSION: The cooling procedures described are ice packs, gel packs or cold compresses. An alternative to conventional cooling methods is Hilotherapy (HilothermGmbH, Ludwigsburg, Germany) a water-circulating cooling device that permits continuous cooling through a face polyurethane preshaped mask.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that Hilotherm is the better method for patient's postoperative edema and pain management when compared to conventional cooling probably due to possibility of mean temperature control and to greater patient's compliance.

KEY WORDS: Cold therapy, Cooling methods, Mandibular fractures.