A comparison of ice wrap and subacromial injection for postoperative pain and edema control following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pain and edema are the most common problems associated with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. The purpose of the present study was to compare ice wrap and subacromial injection (SI) as treatments for early postop pain and edema control and to contrast them with a control group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 59 patients treated with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were randomized into three groups: 23 patients who received an ice wrap, 20 patients who received a SI, and a control group of 16 patients. RESULTS: Patient demographics, comorbidities, tear retraction, degree of fatty muscle degeneration, surgical procedures, and amount of irrigation fluid were similar for the three groups, which also showed similar results regarding postoperative pain and edema control as well as analgesic consumption. CONCLUSIONS: The present study failed to show any difference in effectiveness between the two most common pain management modalities, or between those modalities and the control group. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, prospective observational study.